Is God There?
I’m sure that every child of God has experienced a time when they longed for that confirming presence of God and yet felt very alone. Does that mean that God was not there? Do we interpret the silence as meaning that he, perhaps, does not care?
The Old Testament records the experience of a godly saint, Job, that gives us great insight into this matter. God himself testified of Job that “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8). Even so, God permitted Satan to attack Job with the only condition that his life be spared. Consequently, Satan destroyed his flocks and herds, took the lives of his children, and plagued Job with grievous sores. Satan took all that Job had except that he spared his life according to God’s instruction. (The fact that Satan is limited by God in what he can do is a lesson in itself that should bring great comfort to the believer.)
Job’s friends were convinced that the evil occurring to him was due to his sin and that Job needed to acknowledge this to God to gain relief. After all, they were not privy to the exchange between the Lord and Satan. They saw the troubles of Job through human eyes untampered by a true knowledge of God. Job, however, maintained his innocence and throughout his suffering longed for an audience with God in order to understand what had transpired and to declare his defense. “Oh, that I knew where I might find him [God], that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments, I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me” (Job 23:3-5).
The absence of a response from God troubled Job. Ultimately, however, he declared that though he could not sense his presence, he knew that God’s purpose was not abandoned. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold” (Job:23:8-10). The truth of the matter is that God is not known or discerned through the senses, but by faith. Frankly, this is the problem with many modern churches. Their worship services are designed to provoke an experience rather than proclaim the word of God that gives birth to faith.
Faith does not need to feel God’s presence to know that he is there, but rests in the very character of God as revealed in his word! Believer, are you feeling alone in your circumstances? Do your prayers seem as though they are falling on deaf ears? Remember, Jesus declared “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). When you are tempted to think you are alone, remember Christ is with you, even as he promised. When you feel that your path is insurmountable and the way forward is unknown, remember that he will never, no never, forsake you. He is unfailingly present with his children and always working to bring them through to the desired haven.
True faith never demands proof, but always rests in promises already made. When the path is rocky, and silence serves as a shroud, let this truth govern. God is teaching you to rest in what he has already said. Let his promises fill your heart with hope and your steps with strength.
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.