As I read Job 1:21, I find “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (NIV)
When I was a new Christian, God often gave me confirming emotions so that I know he’s there and he cares. But as I grow in faith, God will wean me of any dependency to rely on emotions to believe he is present and at work in my life.
God’s omnipresence and the manifestation of his presence are two different things. One is a fact; the other is often a feeling. God is always present, even when I’m unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion.
Yes, he wants me to sense his presence, but he’s more concerned that I trust him than that I feel him. It's Faith, not feelings, that pleases God.
The situations that will stretch my faith most will be those times when life falls apart and God is nowhere to be found. This happened to Job. On a single day he lost everything. And, most discouraging, God said nothing to Job for 37 chapters!
How do I praise God when I don’t understand what’s happening and it seems God is silent? How do I stay connected in a crisis without communication? How do I keep my eyes on Jesus when they’re full of tears? I do what Job did: “Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised’” (Job 1:20-21 NIV).
Tell God exactly how I feel. Pour out my heart to Him. Unload every emotion that I’m feeling. Job did this when he said, “I can’t be quiet! I am angry and bitter. I have to speak” (Job 7:11 GNT).
He cried out when God seemed distant: “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4 NIV).
God can handle my doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions. I can take everything to him in prayer.
In summary, the Lord gives and the Lord can take away. No matter in which case, let the name of the Lord be praised. As I grow in faith, God will wean me of any dependency to rely on emotions to believe he is present and at work in my life. God is always present, even when I’m unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion. While, He wants me to sense his presence, he’s more concerned that I trust him than that I feel him. It's Faith, not feelings, that pleases God. The situations that will stretch my faith most will be those times when life falls apart and God is nowhere to be found. How do I praise God when this happens. I do what Job did: “he fell to the ground in worship and said: The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised”. His Word shows me that It’s ok to tell God exactly how I feel. God can handle my doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions. I can take everything to him in prayer.
Father I need to continue to put my trust in you at all times and especially when I don’t feel your presence. I can choose to focus on what you have done for me up to now and gain encouragement from your work in my life. I pray for help from the Holy Spirit to help me keep this in mind. I also ask for you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I trust you for the outcome of my life and pledge to continue to do what you have already revealed to me. I pray these things in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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