Hidden God

God declares that He is always with us. He is with us wherever we go. If we go to Antarctica, He is there. If we go to the moon, God is still there. God is in the deepest, darkest caves, and He is in the farthest reaches of space.

Even so, just because God is everywhere does not mean we constantly feel His presence. There are obviously times in our lives when we really do feel the very presence of God, perhaps during worship or times of intense prayer. But just as there are moments when we feel His presence, there are moments when we do not.

When we don't feel the presence of God, is it just because we are running away from Him? Is it because we are in the midst of rebellion against God, or is it because we are lost in the fleshly desires of sin? The answer needs to be a clear and resounding "NO!" Sometimes God hides Himself from us.

James Smith writes: "God hides himself. To hide is to conceal his beauty, to veil his face...so that we cannot perceive his purpose, or understand his designs in his dispensations. The Lord sometimes hides himself from us in times of trouble, in season of sickness, and when suffering from painful disappointment. This he does - to prove us - to improve us - and to instruct us."

But this does not mean that God has abandoned us. God is always with us, even when He conceals Himself. Even when we can't feel God, we still need to cry out to Him. God will not hide Himself forever.

Living Life