Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Does God seem hidden in hard times? You’re not alone!


If we think that God is hidden when we are in a time of trouble, in a hard time, in the crucible, we are not alone. Over and over again we read in the Scriptures that God seems distant, far away and even hidden.
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?  Psalm 10:1
Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? Psalm 44:24
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Psalm 102:2
Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.  Psalm 143:7
Isaiah declares what we all experience at times:
Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. Isaiah 45:15
BUT just a few verses later, Isaiah declares the truth we need to rest on:
But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. (vs 17)
We might indeed “feel” that God is hidden or that He is absent—He is not!
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17–18
What promises! He is not only present, He will ultimately bring salvation and we will NOT be put to shame or confounded for all eternity. May the Lord give us steadfast hearts (Psalm 57:7) to endure until then!