In review of Job 23:8-10 Job says, “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” (NLT)
Job was saying that God appeared to be avoiding or hiding from him. However, he also expressed confidence that God knew every detail about his situation and would come to his rescue. Often my experience of God in this life leads me to doubt his constant presence. I need to realize that sometimes my feelings will lead me astray. I can always count on God's help and presence, even when I can't feel it.
Yesterday I saw that David sometimes complained of God’s apparent absence. But the truth is, God hadn’t really left David, just as God will never leave me. God has promised repeatedly, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5 GNT).
Yet God has not promised that I will always feel his presence. In fact, God acknowledges that sometimes he hides his face from me (Isaiah 45:15). There are times when he appears to be missing-in-action.
This is a normal part of the testing and maturing of my friendship with God. Every Christian goes through it at least once and usually several times. It is painful and disconcerting, but it is absolutely vital for the development of my faith.
Knowing this gave Job hope when he could not feel God’s presence in his life. He said, “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold” (Job 23:8-10 NLT).
When God seems distant, it may feel like he is angry with or disciplining me for some sin. In fact, sin does disconnect me from intimate fellowship with God. I grieve God’s Spirit and quench our fellowship with him by disobedience, conflict with others, busyness, friendship with the world, and other sins (Psalm 51; Ephesians 4:29-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Jeremiah 2:32; 1 Corinthians 8:12; James 4:4).
But often this feeling of abandonment or estrangement from God has nothing to do with sin. It is a test of faith, one I must face: Will I continue to love, trust, obey, and worship God, even when I have no sense of his presence or visible evidence of his work in my life?
The most common mistake Christians make in worship today is seeking an experience rather than seeking God. They look for a feeling, and if it happens, they conclude that they have worshiped.
But God often removes my feelings so I won’t depend on them. Instead, he wants to draw me into a deeper relationship with him.
In summary, there will be times when I cannot find God, he’ll appear concealed. But even then He still knows where I am going. And when he tests me through these times, I want to come out as pure as gold. There will be times when I may doubt his constant presence. I need to realize that sometimes my feelings will lead me astray, but regardless I can always count on God's help and presence, even when I can't feel it. I’ve learned through his Word that He will never leave me. He has promised this repeatedly. Yet God has not promised that I will always feel his presence. God acknowledges that sometimes he will hide his face from me, and there will be times when it appears to be missing-in-action. This is a normal part of the testing and maturing of my friendship with Him. When God seems distant, it may feel like he is angry with or disciplining me for some sin. But often this feeling of abandonment or estrangement from God has nothing to do with sin. Rather It will be a test of faith, one I must face: so will I continue to love, trust, obey, and worship during these periods. The most common mistake is seeking an experience rather than seeking God. But God wants to remove feelings so I won’t depend on them. Instead, he wants to draw me into a deeper relationship with him.
Father thank you for this reminder. I ask that the Holy Spirit remind me of this in times when I don’t feel your presence. I ask this in your Son Jesus’ name, amen.
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