When God Seems Hidden
“Elvis has left the building.”
Ever feel that way about God?
- Maybe it was a dark period in your life—or a bout of depression—and you wondered where God was.
- Maybe you needed direction on a decision, yet God was silent.
- Maybe you felt like your prayers were going no further than the ceiling.
I can get all theological and expound on God’s omnipresence. He is everywhere at the same time. God wouldn’t be much of a God if He was limited to one place. So, yes, God is everywhere, but …
… God can still feel hidden.
Sin in our lives can certainly be a reason for the absence of God. God’s Word is clear on this. In warning the Israelites of what would happen if they sinned, He said, “I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods” (Deut. 31:18). And that is exactly what He did. Through Ezekiel, God later said, ” I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid my face from them” (Ezek. 39:24).
Examine your heart. If you’re got unconfessed sin, deal with it. And move forward in God’s forgiveness and mercy.
“The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
But unconfessed sin is not the only reason God can seem hidden. Even David, the man after God’s own heart, often called out for the presence of God.
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Ps. 13:1)
Christians face hard times. And Jesus warned us that, as His return nears, we will face incredibly challenging days. In Matthew 24–25, as Jesus taught His disciples about the coming days, He told them, “Take note: I have told you in advance” (Matt. 24:25).
He told us so that we wouldn’t panic. God knows what is going to happen, and He will not abandon His children. Remember that on those dark days when you feel alone and wonder where God is. On those days, don’t rely on your emotions or feelings. Rest by faith in the truth that God is with you. Circumstances don’t dictate; God is with you regardless.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).
Faith calls us to trust when our feelings say otherwise. This is not a blind faith or “psyching ourselves up” to believe something. Our faith needs to rest in God and what He has told us. And He has told us that He is with us. As His followers, He does not abandon us! Jesus’s last words recorded in the Gospel of Matthew affirm this. “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
What is happening to you at this moment is no surprise to God. And what will happen before His return is no surprise to Him either. He wants us to remember that. If you are a follower of Christ, know this: He is with you even now. And He will be with you in the future.
God is here.
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This post supports the study “Know What’s Coming” in Bible Studies for Life and YOU.
Podcast
Join Lynn Pryor and Chris Johnson as they discuss this topic:
http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/bsfl_adults/BSFL_ADULTS_SPR22_U3S2.mp3
