God are You There?

God Are You There?

By Rob Wiltshire

“GOD ARE YOU THERE?”

Ever said that?  Have you ever been in the position where it feels as though God has no interest in your life, or in particular, your current situation?

I know I have.  I’ve had multiple times during my life where despite how earnestly I called out to God, it felt like he was never there.

To clarify what I felt.  I didn’t feel like God was 100 miles away.  I felt like God wasn’t interested in me, in my life, or in my current predicament.  At different times through these seasons, people would encourage me with how God was there and was working but honestly, it didn’t feel like that at all.  It didn’t feel like it simply because I couldn’t see or feel Him working through the problem.

Paul addresses his struggles with ‘life’ in 2 Corinthians.  Paul was doing what he believed God had told him to do, and because of it he had been thrown in jail, beaten up, was at death’s door time after time.  He was flogged five times with the thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummelled with rocks once.  And on top of that he was shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day.  2 Corinthians 11:25.

Wow, Paul had some serious hard times. 

No where can I find this thought in the bible, but I would be under the assumption that Paul being a normal human like you and I, would have felt at times as though God was absent or uninterested in his life. 

Regardless as to whether he felt like that at times or not he didn’t believe it to be true. 

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:6-7,

6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us?

Note how Paul writes,

It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.

Paul’s trust was on his firm conviction that God was working, moving, doing something regardless as to whether he could see it, feel it, or not.

So back to the original question… “Have you ever been in the position where it feels like God has no interest in your life, and in particular your current situation?”

I bet you have.  Just like I have, and most probably like Paul did.  But just because we feel it, doesn’t make it true.

Michael W Smith sings a song titled “Waymaker.”

The chorus reads… 

Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are

I love the declaration the chorus is regarding who God is.  But as much as I love the chorus, it’s the bridge that brings it all together.

Even when I don't see it, You're working
Even when I don't feel it, You're working
You never stop, You never stop working

Could it be that God is working in your life and current situation, but you are currently unable to see or feel it?  I would suggest undoubtedly yes. 

This is why Paul wrote; It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.  He wrote this because he had a firm conviction and understanding that God was working in his life regardless as to how it felt.  And because of this, he — Paul — could keep moving forward in the confidence that God has something in store for him around the corner.

Here is what I would encourage you to do. 

Pause, follow this link to the song Waymaker.  Listen to the song and let Gods presence refresh you, and fill you with the confidence that, regardless as to whether you feel it or not He is working and He is not going to stop.