We have had an unusually warm winter with little precipitation. It’s as though the heavens have closed up leaving the ground parched for water. No appreciable snow, little rain, and it has been this way for several months.
There are times in the spiritual life when the heavens appear to be closed, too, and no responses to prayer seem to come. Or, the Spirit of God seems to be in another universe altogether and we feel bereft of His presence, times when God almost seems to not be listening to us for some reason. When that happens, we’ll take inventory: do I have unconfessed sin? Am I angry at someone? Do I owe someone an apology? We come up with all kinds of reasons why God has seemingly left us alone and on our own.
But God’s silence isn’t necessarily due to anything on our part at all. Scripture says His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. In the Gospel of Luke, the Holy Spirit led Jesus out to the wilderness after He had heard God’s voice from heaven declare, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) It was in wilderness wandering, a place of silence and aloneness that Jesus was tempted by Satan. It was a time of trial and testing for him. This, after a moment of glory.
It is not comfortable to talk about God testing His people, but scripture says He does so. Not so He can see if we will fail. No, the good news is that even when He seems far away, the abiding truth is that we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. And His power and presence means that just like Jesus, we can be victorious in the times we feel the weakest. Whatever we may face, God will never truly leave us alone and without sufficient strength.
We may feel like God isn’t hearing us or that He is nowhere to be found, but He is near. Scripture says God will never leave us nor forsake us, and that remains true in times of trials. Whatever we are going through, God is there, giving strength and grace so we might move on to greater things in life. So, do not be discouraged if facing difficulties and in the wilderness. Jesus went through the same and is alongside you even now. Faith is the assurance of things not yet seen. It is our hope of coming through stronger and closer to God.
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3 comments:
Thanks for the encouragement, Susan. Many are in need of it, as am I.
Lyndon
Why do you believe in God? Please respond with why you think God and the spiritual world exist. Do not try to convince me into believing with your response, I would just like to hear what you have to say. With God, you are trapped. You cannot live life without knowing that there isn't such a thing as a 'miracle'. If God exists, why is he 'granting miracles' to people like us? Why is there starvation and poverty? How about children in Africa with no water? Why would God make good things happen to people who already have so much, but wouldn't even glance at a food deprived child? Please respond. I want to know.
I won't try and convince you of anything. I am not good at that sort of thing anyway. I believe in God because years ago I was a hopeless alcoholic and drug abuser. My addiction was overpowering and I lived for drink. My life consisted of working and drinking until drunk and passing out. I would wake up at night sweating and shaking needing a drink. During the ten years I lived that way I attempted suicide twice. I hated my life and saw nothing worth living for. I reached a final breaking point of either getting sober or die and I chose trying to get sober. It's then I that I found a relationship with God through AA. I am utterly convinced that I would not be sober, and highly likely that I might not even be alive, if I had not turned to God. I believe because I did not have the power to free myself from the addiction I had. I did not have the strength of will to stop drinking. It took a power beyond me.
I cannot explain the question of human suffering and inequity in a way that will probably satisfy, but I do know that people like me who live in relative comfort will be judged in accordance with that. I don't believe God makes people poor or sick. I think I am a descendant of people who migrated to this country and I have benefited. There are people who are in other countries suffering drought, famine, war, evil governments. I don't believe God ignores their plight, but rather expects those who have blessings to share and to work for justice and to help those in need. There are many Christian organizations doing missions work in third world countries. Is it enough? No, it isn't. Christians in the U.S. need to do more. The need is great.
All I know for sure is that as the old hymn says, I once was lost and now am found. God is very real. I won't try to convince you of that, but I know my life was completely changed by Him.
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