God’s Presence

Is God absent in my times of pain and trouble?

God’s Response

When the traders came by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver. . . . The LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. Genesis 37:28; 39:3

After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10

We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 2 Corinthians 4:9

God will never desert those who follow him. He doesn’t take the day off and forget about you. When you accidentally cut yourself, you become completely focused on how bad it is and on how to stop the bleeding. In the same way, our problems and troubles can focus us so much on getting rid of the pain that we neglect God, forgetting that he has promised to help us in our difficulties. To abandon you, God would have to cease loving you, and he cannot do that, for he is love.

God’s Promise

The LORD will not abandon his chosen people. 1 Samuel 12:22