My husband and I recently finished a television series called “Kim’s Convenience”.  It’s the story of a Korean family that immigrated to Canada.  They run a convenience store and are very active in their Korean Christian church.  They have a son and daughter, and over the few seasons, it depicts the challenges of raising a family while holding onto their traditional values.

In the last season, the mom (affectionately referred to as “Yobo” at times) develops some health issues and starts to have a crisis of faith.  Through out the previous seasons, she has always held strong to her faith despite the circumstances. In this particular episode, she says that she got mad at Jesus for her health issues and now she feels like her prayers are backfiring. She feels like God is pushing her away.   She admits this to her husband (“Appa”), and he has what might be his most tender moment during the series. He tells her that Jesus never pushes people away- “He only pulls them closer”.  He encourages her to talk to Jesus.  As she prays, her husband responds, as Jesus would.  He calls her by name and says “It’s good to hear from you.” She says that he (Jesus) feels so far away from her and asks him to answer her prayer. She apologizes for blaming him for her illness. In his broken English, he responds and says “You feel like we are far apart, but I am right here. I don’t hold grudge. I love you.”

To watch the conversation play out on a mainstream show was shocking, but it was the simplicity of the conversation was what touched my heart. It actually felt like something that Jesus would say.  I have been in her position so many times. I admit that I have gotten angry at God. I have felt far away from him.  This conversation between a husband and wife reminded me that God is just waiting for me to talk to him.  I might have stopped talking, but He never stopped listening. Even though his responses may not be as obvious as this conversation, I have to be confident that He is listening.

Psalms 34:17-18 says “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted, he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. ” If you need some encouragement today, that’s a great chapter to go read!

If a friend were to call you needing some comfort- what is the best thing that you would say? God’s response to his children is even better than we can imagine.

God loves you. He hears you.  He is not far away. He is as close as your whisper.