Feb 26 - DAY 14 - When God Seems Distant

Day 14

When God Seems Distant

O Lord, why do you

stand so far away?

Why do you hide when

I need you the most?

Psalm 10:1 NLT

Let me remind you of one of my favorite illustrations …

Three people are walking

along the top of a narrow wall.

Facts. Faith. And Feelings.

In that order.

Faith stays upright as long

as she faces Facts.

But whenever she turns around

to look at feelings,

she teeters and falls.

Rick Warren begins today’s chapter with the words: “God is real, no matter how you feel.”

In his words, do you see faith turning around, looking at feelings, and beginning to totter? “You won’t always feel close to him.” “Any relationship involves times of closeness and times of distance.”

Scripture is our best friend in seasons that seem distant. God’s Word is Truth. It holds the timeless Facts that will keep us walking forward, even in times of distance, doubt, and despair.

David is a wonderful mentor through all of the seasons of life. He’s honest. He has feelings. And sometimes life in this world snaps his head around. His feelings are swallowing him. So what does he do? Today’s verse gives us a clue.

•      First, David is honest. He is honest with himself and he is honest with God: “O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?” (Ps 10:1).
•      Second, he wills himself to turn from his feelings. In crying, “12 Arise, O Lord. Punish the wicked,” David is acknowledging the Facts in his head, even though he’s not experiencing them in his immediate circumstances. He’s saying, “God, I know you’re real. I know you’re active. I know you care. Act now. I’m desperate.”
•      Finally, by acknowledging the Fact of an active God – even when he can’t see the results yet – David’s tottering faith begins to swell. Finally he is able to cry out again: “16 The Lord is king forever and ever! 17 LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. 18 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed…”

Did you see the pattern?

•      When feelings and fears try to topple you, be honest with yourself … and with God. 
•      Will yourself to face forward. Scripture’s promises are Facts. Face them. And will yourself to say, “Lord, I will trust in you.” 
•      Praise God, trusting that your Faith will continue to swell the more you focus on him.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who loves pointing to the Facts

and pointing people forward