• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Christian Concepts

Bringing your Potential to Light

  • Start Here
  • Insights
  • About
  • Subscribe

found

Where Are You God?

January 19, 2020 by Matt Pavlik 2 Comments

Have you ever lost something important and then developed a near panic when you couldn’t find it?

In the Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo has a moment when he can’t find The Ring. He looks all over for it and works himself into a frenzy. He finds it in his pocket (where he left it) after only a few minutes.

When you’ve lost something important, a few anxious minutes can feel like an eternity. When this happens, more than a physical sensation is involved. A spirit of fear can take hold. Before you know it, you can believe you are doomed.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells several parables about us being lost and the rejoicing that happens when we repent and move toward God. While Jesus never worries or panics, it is clear that He misses us when we become distracted with life and forget about Him.

From our perspective, isn’t it usually the other way around? We think we know where we are and we declare that God is missing.

I can’t feel God anymore. God, are you there? It doesn’t feel like you are there. Don’t you care that I’m suffering?

This reminds me of Mary when her brother Lazarus died. “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). She is hurting and disappointed. But she knows that God’s presence makes all the difference.

When God is present, it is first a spiritual experience and second an emotional experience. If you find yourself all alone in the sense that you can’t feel God’s presence, you might be tuned to the wrong channel.

If you only go looking for God with your feelings, you might miss Him. He’s always there, but you can’t always feel Him. You can read the Bible and know He will never abandon you. But I’m talking about something different.

When Jesus left us, He sent His Holy Spirit to be with us.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

John 14:16-18 NLT

As believers, we can sense God’s presence without necessarily feeling God’s presence.

I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining. I believe in love even when not feeling it. I believe in God even when He is silent.

Anonymous

The next time you feel like God is absent, try reaching out with your spiritual senses. Affirm God is with you spiritually. Then ask the Holy Spirit to teach you about God’s truth and love.

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

Filed Under: Identity, Eternal Security, Fear versus Faith, God's Kingdom, Longing for God Tagged With: found, lost, love

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Supercharge Your Living With A Prayer Journal
  • Addiction Is About Control
  • Overcommunicate To Save Your Marriage
  • Freedom Can Save A Marriage
  • How To Ensure Your Empathy Is Healthy

Never miss an insight

Recent Comments

  • Supercharge Your Living With A Prayer Journal - Christian Concepts on Use Journaling to Unbox Your Heart
  • Dawn Blevins on Be Imperfect But Live Strong Anyway
  • Be Imperfect But Live Strong Anyway - Christian Concepts on Addiction Is About Control
  • Dawn Blevins on Addiction Is About Control
  • Addiction Is About Control - Christian Concepts on Be Imperfect But Live Strong Anyway

Topics

  • Abuse
  • Core Longings
  • Counseling
  • Dating
  • Desire
  • Eternal Security
  • Fear versus Faith
  • Feelings
  • Forgiveness
  • Gender
  • God's Kingdom
  • Grace
  • Growth
  • Healing
  • Heart Attitude
  • Hope
  • Identity
  • Longing for God
  • Marriage
  • Publishing
  • Purpose
  • Self-Care
  • Self-Image
  • Self-Worth
  • Shame
  • Significance
  • Suffering
  • Theology

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • September 2017
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • February 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2003–2021 · New Reflections Counseling, Inc. · Christian Concepts Publishing · Privacy Policy