Where Are You?
God hides in order to make himself known
I’ve been asked or e-mailed that question more than a few times the last few weeks. From people looking for their e-mail devotion and not finding it.
More perplexing to them, and perhaps their first assumption, was that something was wrong with their e-mail program or ISP, or somehow they were unsubscribed without knowing it.
But everything is okay. I’ve had an ongoing family crisis and I’m finally getting around to the “routine” things of life, including writing devotions. Nothing is wrong with your e-mail. You haven’t been unsusbscribed. And thanks for your patience, as well as the encouragement of those who contacted me.
There’s a lesson here. If I were sharp enough or deceptive enough, or both, I’d say I planned it this way. But I didn’t.
How about those times we wonder about God, “Where are you?” And then we let the devilish seeds planted in our sinful flesh take root and we wonder, “What did I do wrong this time?” And then those roots flourish and blossom into, “I bet I’ve been unsaved from God’s family of believers without my knowing it.” Oh, the anxiety. All so unnecessary according to our Savior.
Harold Senkbeil, in his book, “Sanctification: Christ in Action,” (a real winner from Northwestern Publishing House) puts it this way:
“We long for some contact with the living God. We want him to speak to us and bring meaning into a world which seems to have gone crazy. We would like some indication, some sign, that God is still on our side and that he is in control …
We forget that God hides in order to make himself known. In a world in which we are bombarded by talk, we forget that God’s silence is his most eloquent way of communicating with us. We keep listening for some word from him, but we forget that God has spoken most clearly in the cross of his Son …” (p. 144)
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not, along with him, graciously give us all good things” (Romans 8:31,32)?
Where is God? This is not some “Where is Waldo?” gimmick to get you to search more intently. God is there. But instead of seeing, just believe. And be blessed.
PRAYER: How often I’ve searched for you, my God, and you haven’t been there. Yes, I know, I was searching in the wrong places. You were with me all the time. You’ve been with me since you brought me into your world, and with me especially since you welcomed me into your kingdom. I know you promise, but I need to ask you again, will you stay with me, forever? Direct my faith to look for you where you are always found. And make yourself known to me in new ways, that I might love and serve you in new ways every day. Amen.