In my life, I have gone through periods where I feel distant from God, as though I have drifted away against my will. During one such struggle, I imagined myself lying on a raft, afloat in an enormous lake. I thought about how little effort it takes to slowly drift from your starting point. One tiny nudge, and gradually the distance between you and your intended location will grow greater and greater. Coasting gently, you can find yourself far out in the open water in no time. And it takes a lot more energy to get yourself back where you need to be.

I’ve always thought of God as being something like the dock, the point at which I started, and slowly drifted from…the thing that never moves. But, I underestimated Him. God is not just the dock. He is also the sky, and the breeze, and the water I’m floating in. I may drift, but even if I end up on the other side of the lake, I will still be within Him. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” seems a lot more real to me now.