Matthew Poole and continuators on Lamentations 3:57

57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee : thou saidst, Fear not .

There was a time when I was in distress, and called upon thee, and thou didst draw near unto me. God is never far off from any of us, as to his essential presence; nor is it possible that he should, for he filleth all places. But he is said to be near us or far off from us, as he manifests or doth not manifest his goodness to us by acts of gracious Providence; of that drawing near the text speaketh. God being infinite in goodness and mercy, is spoken of as absent from those persons and places, where he is not shewing mercy, and present onely there where he sheweth forth his goodness, and to be drawing nigh to them to whom he beginneth to shew Mercy.

Thou didst incourage me formerly upon my prayer.