MEMORY VERSE:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
Do you have times when you wonder where God is? Do you feel He’s abandoned you when you need His presence the most? Are you reading this and thinking, “God, what God, I’ve never been able to find God?”
If you have these thoughts you’re not alone. On any given day you listen to the news around the world and wonder, "Where is God?" Where is He in the famine in Africa, in the violence in Syria, in the recent shooting in the movie theater in Colorado?
Closer to home; where is God in your cancer diagnosis, in the death of your child, in the depression of your spouse? Quite often life doesn’t work out the way we hoped and injustice surrounds us.
All of the “where are God” questions are valid thoughts, not to be dismissed lightly. They’re cries of outrage at events that warrant attention. When times are darkest we feel completely alone. We cry out to God but feel as though there’s no response.
A lot of times we use our emotions to define God’s presence. We think of His presence as that warm fuzzy feeling we get when we’re wrapped up in a fleece blanket. This creates a problem. If we’re associating God’s presence with the warm fuzzies how will we recognize Him in our darkest moments of grief, sadness, or depression?
Our relationship with God is so much more than just the warm fuzzies. God doesn’t abandon us in our mourning and grief. He mourns and grieves with us. His heart breaks when ours does. He doesn’t want you to have cancer. He doesn’t want your child to die. He doesn’t want your marriage to end. He doesn’t want the violence in Syria and he doesn’t want people to starve in Africa.
I believe all of these things grieve Him deeply. In Psalm 56, David knows God cares about his troubles. He says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!” (Psalm 56:8-9 NLT)
I think it’s harder for us to stay in close relationship with God when we’re struggling. We associate an “emotional high” with God’s presence and when we’re depressed and don’t get it we assume He’s abandoned us.
Jesus tells us this isn’t true. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus tells us to look for and pursue God. He promises if we persevere in seeking God’s presence we will be successful in finding Him.
I understand that’s hard to do sometimes. It’s hard to be persistent when you’re caught in an undertow of depression. It’s hard to pursue God when you’re physically exhausted. It’s hard to seek God when you’re living in daily chaos.
I encourage you to lean on the promises from Jesus; ask for God and receive Him, seek God and find Him, knock at the doors of heaven and allow God to show you the way inside.
Pursue Him and you will find a relationship with Him that is so much deeper than just the warm fuzzies. You'll find His comforting presence with you in times when you need it the most.
Do you struggle with maintaining your relationship with God in the hard times of life? Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
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