God Longs for You
By Dena J. Dyer

God sent his only Son far away, when he could have held Jesus close to his side, because he loves you so much.

Scripture: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" Luke 13:34, NIV

Last week, I was gone to a writing conference in Colorado, and I had to leave my son and husband behind for a few days.

I don't like to be away from home, but I knew God was opening a door for me to go to this conference, and I needed a spiritual retreat. It was a wonderful time in the mountains, surrounded by nature and by other people who shared my passion for the written word. But by the third day, I was so homesick for my 3 year-old, Jordan, that my arms literally ached to hold him.

As I prayed and cried that night before falling asleep, God spoke to my heart. "I long for my children that way," he seemed to say to me. And with a start, I realized that in the scripture God is often portrayed with emotions like a mother's.

Are you running from God? Do you feel as if he's forgotten you? Maybe you think he should have intervened to help you with a problem that continues to trouble you.

Just remember: John 3:16 says that God sent his only Son far away, when he could have held Jesus close to his side, because he loves you so much.

And even now, his arms ache to hold you close.

Lord, help me to remember that you love me even more than I can imagine. Thank you that you never leave me or forsake me.

cbn