Getting Close

The first time I saw the sand and the ocean as far as my eyes could see, is when I realized that I saw Him. I stood on the beach with the sand between my toes and the water washing over them and I felt Him. Still to this day, I will never forget how close I feel to God when I am at the ocean. All of us have a place where we feel closest to Him. When I was twenty, I left home for a period of time and moved to the North Carolina coast. Any time I needed to feel close to God, I went to the beach. I usually went late in the evenings when others had gone home. I knew I could pray wherever I was and He would hear me, but feeling Him is what gave me comfort. When I had to leave North Carolina and move back to Kentucky I took one last drive to the beach. Alone, late at night, I sat there with the water rushing around me and cried. I had never felt as close to God as I did when I was on a beach. What was I going to do now?

I moved back home and I immediately missed that closeness. I prayed and prayed. And although that can bring some comfort, for me I needed to feel as though He heard me. One fall day I went for a drive alone. The leaves had changed colors and seeing all the colorful trees on the mountainside simply amazed me. I pulled over and decided to take a walk up an old path. I was half way up the path when I felt Him. I looked down and there were leaves everywhere. The cool autumn air, the birds chirpingโ€“โ€“I knew He was telling me something.

I didnโ€™t need the ocean to feel Him. Sometimes I donโ€™t even need to pray to feel close to Him. I simply need to take the time to appreciate the marvelous works He created. The snow in the winter, the rain and flowers in the spring are all signs He gives us that He is alive. In some form, everyday, I look for Him. I always make it a point to appreciate the blessing He gives me of life so that I can enjoy His works.

By Sarah J. Ancheta

Comments

  1. Sarah, what a beautiful article! I know exactly what you are talking about. I felt the power of God the very first time I saw the ocean. I was in my twenties and my children were all little. I never realized the strength of His power before then.
    Years later, when I lived on my 10 acre farm, I could feel God there also. I would look at the trees across the field every Spring and see what looked to me like God painting a new picture for me each day. The flowering trees would bud with all kinds of various colors.
    Then in the Fall, it would happen again, only this time with the brilliant shades of orange, red, purple, yellow and brown. Even the snow was so beautiful there! I loved to take walks and I would listen to the birds singing and other nature sounds and pray. I felt close to God there. A thunderstorm also makes me realize the Power of God.
    Whenever I fly in a plane, I see the vastness of this universe and it reminds me that He is in control, and if He has that much strength and Power, then I don’t need to worry at all.

  2. Thank you so much for sharing your stories about feeling close to God! I agree, it is a great feeling to feel that way…I think of Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” When I’m in nature, especially, like you, I see, hear, feel God everywhere! ๐Ÿ™‚ He sure knew what He was doing when He created our beautiful planet. I hope we continue to grow closer to God, sister! ๐Ÿ™‚

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