Experiencing God's Presence #138

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

Psalm 22:1

Anyone who has walked with God for a significant length of time has had such moments of despair. Joseph must have had one when his God-given dreams caused his brothers to send him far away into captivity. David must have had one when he was driven into exile by murderous King Saul. And Jesus certainly had one when He quoted this psalm on the cross. Those who are most acquainted with God’s Presence are most sensitive to His absence.

God allows these crisis moments—times when we’re completely disoriented about what He’s doing and where He is. We can walk closely with Him for years, certain of His direction and Presence, and then suddenly experience a seemingly catastrophic turn of events and a sense that He’s nowhere around. Like Isaac on the altar looking up at Abraham’s knife and wondering what happened to love, we can look at our Father’s actions toward us and feel like His victims. How we respond in these moments is crucial. Do we accuse Him of mishandling our affairs, of withholding something good, or perhaps even of betraying our trust? Or do we insist on trust even when we don’t understand? We know the correct answer, but in a forsaken moment that answer isn’t easy.

When you cry out to God because it seems that He has forsaken you, know that the contradiction to His Presence isn’t unusual. In fact, if you have a heart for Him, you will feel His absence acutely at times. It’s inevitable. It’s one of the ways He prepares you for the next level in a high calling. Respond in trust, and His Presence and His purposes will soon become clear again.

Lord, I have felt forsaken at times. I don’t always know what You’re doing, and there are times when that hurts. Please help me move through those seasons with trust, and please restore the closeness we’ve had.

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