Searched and Known

I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone say “I just really want to grow in intimacy with Jesus.” We know what it means to us, but practically what does that actually look like? I think we hold a lot of expectations around that phrase. We expect to suddenly be spending sweet long mornings with Jesus in prayer. We expect to have our worship playlist on repeat, an overflowing sense of joy in our heart, and a new anointing of the Holy Spirit. We get frustrated when we don’t wake up the next morning feeling this way or maybe even feeling God’s presence in our lives at all. Why is that?

Intimacy means “close familiarity; friendship, closeness.” In college I took an interpersonal communications class and I still remember my teacher said the quickest way to build intimacy with someone is through self-disclosure— usually deeper vulnerable details of your life, past and present. Because of that vulnerability, intimacy at any level requires a certain amount of trust. The cool thing about Jesus is that He already knows everything about us, including the deepest longings of our hearts.
 
Psalm 139:1-4 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely (NIV). ”

In our relationship with Jesus, we already have a huge head start when it comes to intimacy. Throughout all of time, God has desired for His people to know His heart and draw near to Him— so much so that He sent Jesus to earth to live among us. Because of Jesus, we have access to God at all times. Even when Jesus left, He said it was for our benefit, because He was sending the Holy Spirit to be with us always.
 
John 16:7 - “But here’s the truth: It’s to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away the Divine Encourager will not be released to you. But after I depart, I will send him to you.”

Even more God gave revelation of His character and heart for humanity through The Bible.
 
James 4:8 says, “Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you.” I like the passion translation here, because it highlights the fact that God is already close to us. We may experience His presence differently in some seasons, but the truth is He’s always close to us. When we feel distant from God, it’s often because we’re filling our minds with distractions or chasing things that aren’t Him.

I just want to release pressure off of growing in intimacy with Jesus. There are no magic words we need to pray, no formulas we need to follow. We forget that God wants us to grow in intimacy with Him so much more than we could ever want it for ourselves. God’s word promises if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. It is that easy y’all. Jesus delights in spending time with His children. Surrender your days to Him. Start talking to Jesus more. The friends you’re closer to, you spend more time with— you talk to them more. Treat Jesus like the Friend and Beautiful Savior He is. Ask Him to release hunger in your heart to get in the Word. Rest in the truth that He’s already near to you.

Author | Olivia Beals