When God Seems Distant (continued)

In the previous post, we looked at those times when God is silent. Some of us have experienced times when it feels like God has abandoned us. We know he’s with us always, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It feels like he’s gone away, that he’s forgotten us or left us alone to find our way. We said that when God is silent or seems distant, we should keep pursuing him with all our strength, and choose to trust him despite how we feel. Sometimes that’s all you can do. Lean into him and trust him and pursue him. 

But somehow, that seems like such a Sunday School answer. I feel abandoned by God, I’ve cried out to God for help, and there’s nothing but silence. I feel like the entire world is against me, and God is nowhere to be found, and you want me to just pursue and trust him? How do I do that?

I can’t tell you what you need to do in your particular situation, but here are some additional things I focused on during some dark times in my life.

One thing I knew: God has a clear purpose for every season of our lives. That includes times when he’s silent. God always has a plan, he’s always in control, and he’s always on the move to accomplish his purpose. As I continued to pray and read the Bible, I claimed the truth that God wasn’t punishing me with his silence. He was growing me. 

With that in mind, here’s a question I asked myself, and if you’re experiencing a time of darkness and silence now, ask yourself this question – If you were confident that God was with you (I know you may not be confident in that right now, but if you were), how would you live? What would you be doing?

Figure that out, and do it today. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day, and the next. Keep doing the right thing no matter how you feel.

My mom taught me to ride my bike when I was in first grade. We would get out in the street with mom behind me, holding onto the bike, and she would tell me to pedal. I couldn’t see her behind me. It sure didn’t feel like she was there holding me up. But she told me she was there, so I pedaled as if she was.

Of course, eventually, she let go, and I crashed. Many times. But that doesn’t fit the illustration.

What I’m saying is, when it doesn’t feel like God is there holding you up, ask yourself, “If I didn’t feel this way, if I felt 100% sure that God was with me, guiding me, loving me, taking care of me, what would I do right now?” And then, no matter how you feel, do it. Pedal. And keep pedaling. Every day.

Because the truth is, God is there with you, holding you. God is never absent. Ever.

When God seems distant, when he’s silent, keep pursuing him, choose to trust him, know he has a purpose in all this and that he’s in control of his purpose, and whatever it is you would do if you felt like he was with you, do that. Because the truth is that he is with you, and your feeling that he’s not there will not last forever.

I do want to say one more thing about God’s presence. If we truly believe that he is always with us, even when it doesn’t feel like it, then that truth should change our lives. Maybe you’re not in a dark time right now, and you’re reading this thinking, “Of course, God is with me. I’ve never felt otherwise.” Great! Then that should impact the way you live.

Long before Chick-fil-a started using a cow as their mascot, there was Doodles the Chicken. And one of our children was scared to death of Doodles. This child, if we were in the store and Doodles came out, this child would scream bloody murder. I mean, it would cause the people in the store to panic because the screaming was so loud. And I would grab this child and hold her, and say, “It’s okay, Daddy’s with you, I’ve got you.”

I’ve mentioned this before, but I don’t like clowns. Earlier in my life, I was out with my parents, and a clown came up, and I panicked and started to hyperventilate. My dad said, “Son, it’s okay, Daddy’s with you,” And I said, “Dad, you’re like 65 years old and I’m 40, how is you being here supposed to help?”

God is with you, and knowing that should change your life. When you understand that the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe is with you no matter what, it should change everything. You would be less afraid, you’d be bold, you’d strive for holiness in everything you do, and you’d trust like never before. If you believed it.

Maybe the best way to accept that God is with you is to look back and remember times when you know he was with you. Things you went through, and you know God was there.

When my Granddaddy died, when I met my wife and knew she was the one, when I went into the ministry, at the birth of our children, in the times when the money dried up, when Anslee had appendicitis and emergency surgery, when we moved away from family and headed to Ohio, in all those times, I knew that God was with me.  

And I’ve seen it in others. I’ve held hands with a lady whose husband took his life, and she knew that God was with her. I’ve sat and prayed with people who have lost their jobs and were confused and afraid, and they knew God was with them. 

Regardless of how you feel, no matter what you’re facing, in the good times and the bad times, your God loves you and is with you always. Believe that. Trust in that. And let it change you. 

Always remember what Jesus said — “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b)

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