“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord“(Romans 8:38-39, NKJV).
I’m sure many of us have experienced seasons of life where we feel deeply close to God. In the same way, I’m sure many of us have experienced times when God feels so far. Sometimes, especially if we are experiencing hardship or unfavorable circumstances, we feel as if God has forgotten about us altogether. This feeling is not unique. As followers of Christ, we are not promised a life free of problems. Several instances in the Bible depict followers of God who face profound trials in life and seek out God’s mercy for rescue. Many express the feeling that God has forgotten or even abandoned them during their difficulties.
For example, in Psalm 13, David candidly expresses his despair, feeling that God has forgotten him and is not listening to his plea for rescue. Then, he calls on God to hear Him; and finally, he demonstrates his trust in God and rejoices in the Lord’s salvation. David, despite being in the depths of despair, still confidently knew that God would rescue Him, and God did.
When you experience hardship, the enemy can use this as a means to drive you further from God. You may feel as though you must manage everything on your own and avoid seeking help from God. This is a sure-fire way to create even more distance between yourself and Him.
How can He help you if you don’t allow Him in? In times of trouble, instead of succumbing to a feeling of helplessness or desperation, we should cry out to God because He hears us, and David’s situation serves as a powerful example of this.
When we feel that God is not hearing or listening, we must persevere. We must continue to pray and read the Word of God, reminding ourselves of His promises to save us and drawing from examples in the Bible that exemplify God’s faithfulness to his children, especially when we don’t feel like doing so.
We must continue to praise and worship Him, particularly when we don’t feel like there’s anything to praise Him for. There is always a reason to praise. I don’t want to downplay how difficult things can be. I’m currently going through a season of life that requires me to patiently wait on the Lord and continually pray to Him, even though I’m not experiencing or seeing immediate results at this time. Nevertheless, I constantly remind myself to trust and remember that He is always listening and always at work.
A significant aspect of our faith is perseverance. No matter what we go through in this life, God is with us and will always be with us through every step of the way. Hebrews 13:5 references God’s promise to us wherein He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Our job is to remain in Him, to preserve, and take joy in the fact that not only will God bring us through whatever situation we are in, but also that Jesus has won the ultimate victory on the cross. In John 16:33, Jesus tells the disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” No matter what we go through in this life, big or small, God wants us to bring our fears, concerns, and troubles to Him.
“The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy“(Psalm 147:11, NKJV).
