“God is farthest from us and at the same time nearest to us in that he dwells within our souls.” 131:5.3 (1450.2)
This beautifully captures the paradoxical nature of humanity’s relationship with the divine. On one hand, God is described as “farthest from us,” emphasizing the transcendence, mystery, and infinite nature of the divine. This aspect suggests that God’s essence is beyond complete human comprehension, existing outside the limits of time, space, and human understanding. The vastness of God can make the divine seem distant or inaccessible, highlighting the humility with which we must approach the sacred.
Yet, in the same breath, the quote asserts that God is also “nearest to us,” for he “dwells within our souls.” This intimate nearness points to the immanence of God—the idea that the divine presence is not only all-encompassing but also personally accessible within each individual. It suggests that, despite God’s infinite greatness, there is a direct and personal connection between the Creator and every soul. This indwelling presence means that we are never truly separated from God; the divine spark resides at the very core of our being, guiding, inspiring, and sustaining us from within.
This duality invites a deeper spiritual reflection: to seek God is both to reach beyond ourselves in awe and to look inward in quiet contemplation. This reassures us that even when God feels distant, the divine is always present at the center of our lives, waiting to be discovered in the depths of our own souls. Embracing this paradox can lead to a richer, more balanced spiritual life—one that honors both the majesty and the intimacy of our relationship with the divine.
