In those moments when you feel far from God’s love check out Psalm 103. It is one of those Psalms that is quoted a lot but you never know where they are quoting from. In those moments write this on your heart and know that though you you may feel a “certain far-ness”, you are never far from God’s love.

The passage throws a bit of a curveball at us toward the end…”great is his loved…for those who fear him.” I have always struggled with what this fear looks and feels like. The best way I have heard it put is that this fear is rooted in “awe and reverence and utmost respect.”

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

I kind of look at it as a really awesome roller coaster. i know comparing God to a roller coaster, crazy right. I have been on the worlds tallest and fastest roller coaster and man I have the most awe and reverence and respect for that thing. I get that crazy nervous feeling right before this coaster and bang lift off. Your stomach turns and there is this rush and then you are 400 ft above the ground. The fear of the Lord encompasses a bunch of emotions. It is not just “fear” but it is awe and respect and reverence and man-god-you-are-awesome and a silent respect – a respect where you do not have to say a thing. I know it does not come close at all: God and roller coasters but what you going to do… Check out the below video of the world’s tallest and fastest coaster in the great state of Ohio.

Psalm 103

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.