THE PROBLEM IS NEVER WITH GOD
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?
Psalms 43:2 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever wondered, “Where is God?”
As followers of Christ, we all have those moments when we feel the presence of God and it is awesome—then come those moments when we wonder where God is and why isn’t He doing something.
Philip Yancey has wisely noted, "Any relationship involves times of closeness and times of distance, and in a relationship with God, no matter how intimate, the pendulum will swing from one side to the other." (Reaching for the Invisible God; Zondervan)
St. John of the Cross was known for calling these times when God feels distant as the “dark night of the soul.” These are the moments when we wonder about God’s love and compassion because we don’t sense His presence.
David was known in the scriptures as a “man after God’s heart.” Yet many times in the Psalms David wondered about the presence of God. In our text today he asked, “Why have you tossed me aside?”
David also asked, “O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Who do you hide when I am in trouble?” (Psalms 10:1, NLT) He even went farther and asked, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?” (Psalms 22:1, NLT)
Despite the amazing times David had with God, there were obviously moments when he wondered why God seemed so far away. These were not just in moments when David had sinned or failed, these were moments when David was following God’s will for his life and being obedient.
We can usually understand the absence of God when we allow sin in our lives. But even in those moments we can confess and repent and find restoration.
It is the moments when we are living in obedience that we often begin to wonder why we are not sensing the presence of God. In my personal life I have learned the problem is not on God’s end. He is always present and always willing to show His compassion in my life.
The problem is that I fail to recognize His presence. Sometimes it is because I’m too busy and distracted. I often find that removing distractions from my life and focusing on God through His Word, worship, prayer, and meditation my sensitivity to His presence increases.
The problem is never with God. The problem is with me.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to learn to develop greater sensitivity to Your presence. Help me to daily have times of connecting with You. Help me daily spend time in Your presence.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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