Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

This past Sunday was International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This day is set aside to pray for Christians across the globe being persecuted for their faith, many giving their lives for the sake of Christ. As attention was brought to this need for prayer during our worship service on Sunday, we were reminded how passionately these believers follow Christ. We were reminded that many of them do not have a copy of the Word to read for themselves, so they sneak away, often hiding in wooded areas, etc to meet with a few other believers for encouragement and truth. Maybe only one out of a group of 5 or 6 even has access to the written Word, sometimes only a page or two.

But - that limitation does not stop them.

They bond together during those times and truly live out Psalms 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Those strong believers are more concerned about knowing God’s truth within themselves and obeying God than bowing to any ruler or government.

As I heard their stories, the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder” stirred within me. It seems the absence of accessibility to Scripture and a local church body makes their hearts grow fonder of the Gospel.

My life, as I have lived thus far, can in no way compare to the lives these brothers and sisters endure, but I have experienced the meaning of the old saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. I mean that in relation to the accessibility of Scripture and or godly influence from time to time. For example, as I have told you before, I love Christian music and there have been times over the years where my heart has longed for the encouragement Christian music brings as I go through my work day – But - the absence of that access, made my ears so excited to tune in once I was in my car. My spirit was like a sponge soaking all of the lyrics and scripture put to music.

There have also been times, one even a few short weeks ago, where I read a verse, but never appreciated it fully until an experience along the course of my day brought its application to light. The sad part was, I had not fully hidden it within my heart and could not recall exactly the words or the exact location of that scripture. I became DESPERATE to know EXACTLY where it was and EXACTLY what God said.

There is something about those moments that I both love and loathe. I love the satisfaction, assurance, and truth that I know His Word has for me. When those scriptures come to life’s light, it becomes like a treasure hunt in my mind until I can get my hands on His word. My love for His letters to me deepens. At the same time, I get so frustrated when I can’t go to just the right place to see what it was He had to say to me. I kick myself for not taking His words to me more seriously and for not paying more attention. Although I both love and loathe them, moments like these seem to fuel my passion for His truth and make me want more and more of Him. Absence makes my heart grow fonder.


I say all of that to say this, if the absence of my mere accessibility to verses causes my heart to grow fonder toward my Jesus, I cannot imagine the fire that burns within the hearts of those persecuted people. If they must risk their lives to even share His presence with their very few close knit friends who believe, their hearts must be like a blazing wildfire on the inside. They must meet every second that they live as they stand on Him alone, every trial that they face in solitude in their faith, with an expectation of seeing God at work.

I repeat – They must meet every SECOND that they live….with an expectation of seeing God at work. I don’t do that. Not every second, not every minute, not every hour.

I don’t expect to see Him while I’m in the grocery store.

I don’t expect to see Him as I talk with patients at work.

I don’t expect to see Him as I meet a stranger in the parking lot.

But He is there, in ALL those places, and my spiritual mind is not engaged. His words aren’t playing back to me from the deepest places of my heart.

Because I never hid them there.

Oh, that we would have that passion within us.


Oh God, it frightens me too much to pray for persecution, but I boldly pray for that passion, that fire to drive my every step. I thank You that You placed me in this nation that I may worship You freely, where I may read and recite your word without fear. I don’t know why You chose to place me here, but I am thankful. Show me, Father, where to go from here. What comes next in birthing that passion within my heart? Search me and reveal to me what is in my life that dulls the passion that comes from a life on fire by a love for You.



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