January 31, 2025
Within our hearts is a desire to be close to God. We long for God’s presence in our lives. We often cannot articulate this desire, but it is present. It feels like a thirst that cannot be quenched, a hunger that cannot be filled, or a longing that no other person can satisfy. Because God is our creator, we understand the blessing of connecting with our Lord. The psalmist wrote long ago, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2) So we look to God, the One who meets our every need.
Sarah Flowers Adams was a poet and hymn writer in early 1800’s. Sarah was gifted in writing, music, and acting. She was an accomplished person in all these areas. One day her pastor asked her to help with the writing of a hymn. He needed it for Sunday. Having only a few days to compose the words, Sarah spent a great deal of time meditating on the scriptures. The scripture her pastor would be using for his sermon was Genesis 28:10-22. It is the story of Jacob’s vision of a ladder coming from heaven.
At the end of the week, Sarah was consumed with the thought of how Jacob and all of God’s children wanted to be closer to God. She was blessed with the knowledge that God is closer than we know. After all, Jacob was traveling in a strange and lonely place. Even though he thought he was alone, God reminded Jacob, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.” (Genesis 28: 15)
At the end of the week, Sarah wrote the words that would become one of the church’s most beloved hymns. It is still sung today as a song of praise and a hymn that proclaims our desire to draw closer to God. The hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee” is one of my favorite hymns. Here are some of the words that reflect our hope to be closer to God:
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
There are times, like Jacob, when we are alone, longing for all that brings comfort and peace. This powerful scripture and the beautiful lyrics of this hymn remind us that God is with us. Let us look to God with joy and peace, knowing that we are not alone.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
