Psalm 107 - When God Feels Distant

Summer in the Psalms

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How's that Summer Bucket List going so far? Knocking a few things off? Maybe realizing we were a bit ambitious at the start of Summer, like when we put "go for a hike" on the list.

We might be thinking: we meant "go for a walk." Not sure how "hike" got there.

Whether hiking mountains is our "thing" or not, my friend, Lauren Vander Linden is sharing her reflection of Psalm 107 with us to remind us the spiritual ascent is one we all need to make, again and again. As we do, we'll find God's love is steady, gently leading us up one step at a time.

Lauren Vander Linden is passionate about making complex issues simple using God’s word. She is a former worship pastor and current speaker and business leader at a Fortune 250. She and her husband, Travis, call Des Moines, Iowa home, but they also love to travel. On their adventures, you can catch her husband looking at the views and Lauren incessantly looking around to avoid dangerous wildlife. You can find more writings about faith, travel, and lifestyle on her blog or on Instagram or Youtube.

My husband and I once set out for a sunrise hike up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. It required headlamps and a 3:00 a.m. alarm. This was very much my husband’s love language—and I love my husband—so up the mountain we went, hiking in complete darkness with very little payoff in terms of views.

Just as dawn began to break, we came out of the trailhead and onto the paved road where people can drive to the summit (my preferred method). We were convinced we were headed in the right direction—until we realized we had gotten off the trail. By then, it was too late to correct our course. Instead of reaching the top by foot, we ended up “hiking” two miles on the backside of the mountain while cars passed us by.

I silently hoped someone might take pity on us so we wouldn’t miss the sunrise. No one did. Instead of a breathtaking mountain sunrise, I walked away with a mediocre picture of the moon.

Have you ever gotten lost? Maybe, like me, you’ve been lost physically. Many of us have also been lost spiritually. Doubt creeps in and causes us to question our faith, or disappointment turns into wondering whether God is really who He says He is.

Psalm 107 tells the story of four groups of people who lost their way. One wandered in wastelands, physically lost. Another rebelled against God. A third suffered affliction, weighed down by their circumstances. The last lost courage while sailing the open seas. Each group was convinced they were heading in the right direction—until reality proved otherwise, and they cried out for help.

Each section of the psalm follows the same pattern. First comes distance—often a conscious turning away from God, sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly. Then despair sets in. The people cry out to the Lord, and He rescues them from their distress. Every story ends with the same refrain:

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. - Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31

Distance. Despair. Help. Rescue. Gratitude.

Two observations stand out to me.

First, despair often begins with distance. Despair is the absence of hope, and the seasons of deepest despair in my life have almost always followed a season of distance from God. Sometimes that distance is intentional—when God doesn’t show up the way we expected, and we quietly pull away. Other times it’s unintentional, caused by the slow drift of distraction and busyness. One day we look up and realize we’re far from where we meant to be. Like that hike on Cadillac Mountain, we’re missing the sunrise we hoped to enjoy.

Second, the right response to God’s faithfulness is gratitude. Psalm 107 reminds us that no matter how we became distant—by rebellion, distraction, or discouragement—God is always willing to rescue us. That’s why every story ends with thanksgiving. The psalm closes by urging us to

...ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. - Psalm 107:43

Gratitude builds faith for the future. When we remember a God who rescues us even when we’ve wandered off the path, we’re reminded that His love is not fickle. It’s steady, patient, and far greater than we can imagine.

Are you in a season of distance from God—intentionally or unintentionally? He is still the God who leads us to the top of the mountain.

Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. - Psalm 107:43

Now, It's Your Turn!

I challenge you to take a moment to pray, then read or listen to Psalm 107 today. Think about what stands out to you. Consider writing down a statement of faith. It may help to think of this as an I-statement. Maybe yours is similar to Lauren's:

God's love is not fickle. It’s steady, patient, and far greater than we can imagine.

Then, jot down a question to think about today. Maybe yours is similar to Lauren's:

What loving deeds of the Lord have I experienced? I can be reminded of God's nearness to me as I ponder these.

May this reflection lead our hearts to gratitude and praise today and may we stand in victory against the tactics and schemes of the enemy.

And praise God for refreshment as we are intentional to spend a summer in the Psalms together, for if we want His truth to ever be on our lips, it must first be planted in our hearts.

Our strength grows as we rely on strength from above. Our joy grows as we see God transforming us from the inside out. Our peace grows as we spend time in God's presence, and we find rest when we intentionally seek the Lord first in our lives, for the Lord is ever our portion.

The good life, well it starts with a good day. Then another. Then another. Let's choose to live #TheGoodDay one day at a time.