When I was a child I wanted to be a professional baseball player. But I never put in the effort to achieve my goal. I played a lot of baseball but didn’t seek the conditioning and instruction to move ahead. Later in life I found a job that I liked and was somewhat good at. I put in the effort and learned the skills to be successful.
If we want something bad enough, most of us will put in the effort to achieve our goals. We may not become the best in our field, but we will move ahead.
Our relationship with God can function similarly. How much do we really want to have a close relationship with God? Is it something for which we are willing to invest an hour once a week? We may even be willing to meet with friends once a week to discuss spiritual matters. How far are we willing to go and how much do we want out of this relationship?
As you might guess, God has something to say on this subject. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” God is not satisfied with an hour of our time here and there. He expects a full commitment of our hearts to Him. If we feel like God is not near, or that He has moved away from us, it is not He who has moved away, but rather we have wandered away from Him. He promised to never leave us, but it is still possible for us to put Him off. As with all relationships, we have to be fully committed to make it work. God expects us to be “all in” with Him.
Reluctant Retiree 