Isaiah: 8:17
The lord has hidden himselve from His people but I trust Him and place my hope in Him.
It easy for us to worship God when things are going great in our life. When He provide every needs of us. But circumtances are not always pleasant.
What do we do when God seems a million miles away?
The deepest level of worship is praising God. Inspite of the pain thanking God. Loving Him when He seems distant.
Relationship are often tested by seperation. We are divided by two physical distance we wont always feel close to him or her.
Philip yankey -- Says, In a relation with god no matter how intimate the pendulum will swing from one side to the other thats when worship gets difficult.
Ang mga taong may releationship with God nakakaramdam ng ganitong situation at based sa kanila mahirap daw ito.
A.w tozer inilarawan nya ang kanyang nararamdaman na "Ministry of the night". The other's refer to the wintet of the night.
The question is why God intentionaly hide himself to us?.
To mature your friendship or the relation you have with God. And to Strengthen your need to God.
Even David close sila ni God. God even Named Him "A man after my own heart". But, He even experience the absence of God in his life.
David Says, "Lord, Why are you standing alone far away?. Why do you hide when I need you the most?. Why are you forsaken me?. Why you remain so distant?. Why do you ignore my cries for help?. Why do you abandoned me?.
But God, Hadn't really left david. Kahit sa atin hindi. Kase nangako nga sya diba? I will never leave you nor forsaken you. But, He did not promise that we will feel His presence around us. Sometimes He appear to be MIA, Missing in action.
Kahit Ako Minsan nagigising ako sa umaga na para bang may kulang. Hindi ako mapakali. Umattend na ko lahat lahat sa bible study namin kaya lang wala padin. Itinanong ko non sa sarili ko na ano bang mali sakin?.
There is nothing wrong kapag nakakaramdam ka nang mga ganon. This is a normal part of the testing and maturing of youe friendship with God. Every Christian goes through it. It is Painful but it is absolutely vital for the development of our faith.
When God seems distant, We feel that he is angry or disciplining you for some sin. But sin has nothing to do with this. It is a taste of faith.
Will you continue love, Trust, obey and worship god even you have no sense of his presence or visible evidence of his work in your life?.
Most common mistake christian make in worship today is seeking an evidence rather than seeking God. We often look for the feeling and if it happens we conclude that we have worshiped. Mali iyon. Inaalis ni God yung Feeling na yon. Para hindi tayo doon mag depend. Seeking a feeling even the feeling of closeness to christ, is not worship.
God omnipresence and manifestation of His precence are two different things one is a Fact, the other is often a feeling God is always present even we are unaware of Him. Present sya kahit na minsan feel natin na malayo siya.
Gusto ni God na nararamdaman natin yung presensya nya pero mas gusto nya yung pinagkakatiwalaan sya. Fait, not the feelings, pleases God.
Masusubok ang faith natin kapag wala na talaga pati na rin si god. Katulad nang nagyari kay job, He lost everything he owned. Sa loob ng 37 chapter God said nothing.
How do you praise God when you dont understand what's happening in your life and God is silent?.
Pero Si job, nagpatirapa sya sa lupa at sinamba si God despite of the pain he goes through.
We have things to do.
Tell God exactly what we feel.
Walang exeption kahit galit, Inis o ano paman. Did we know that admitting your hopelessness to God can be a statement of faith? Katulad ni Job.
Si David, Sabi nya I believed, so I said I am completely ruined! Trusting God but feeling despair at the same time. Parang may contradiction he trust God but he wipe out parang ganon. Yung statement ni david reveals deep faith. First He believe in God. Second, naniniwala sya na pinakikinggan sila ni God. And third, nakikinig si God sa kanya at alam nyang mahal sya ni God.
Focus on who God is
Lagi nating iisipin na mabuti sya, He love us. He has a good plan for us.
Trust God to keep His promises
Kapag nakakaramdam tayo ng spirutual dryness we must patiently rely on the promise of God. We should realize that He is taking us to a different level of maturity.
Remember what God has alrealdy done for you
Jesus Gave up everything so we could have everything He died so we couldo live forever.
Verse to remember
"For God has said I will never leave you, I will never abandon you". ---- hebrews 13:5(TEV)
