When God Seems Distant…
September 9th, 2009 | Michael Q. Pink
“For He, God Himself has said, ‘I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake, nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]‘ So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5 - Amp)
Do you ever feel distant from God? You know He’s real and that He loves you but it feels more theoretical than experiential. You read His word, but don’t get too much from it. You go to church and leave wondering why you were there that day. Can anyone relate to this (besides a few pastors I know)? (o-:
Here’s my advice for today… If you’re not feeling too connected to the Lord right now, cast that aside and go with what the Scripture says. Jesus said He would never leave you, nor forsake, no never! Take Him at His word, regardless of how you feel! Just the other day, I was fighting that battle myself, when it occurred to me that I was believing a lie simply because I felt down. (Or perhaps I felt down because I was believing a lie.)
I realized I had bought into a lie that God was distant, that He didn’t have much too say to me. I was earnestly seeking God to speak something fresh to me, to give me a “now” word. That was when I realized I have had plenty of “now” words both by the Spirit and from Scripture over the years. I simply needed to respond as though they were true, because they are. I began to praise Him and thank Him and let Him know that while my emotions were on a low ebb and my spiritual senses were apparently on snooze mode, that I knew His word was true and the problem was not with Him, but with me.
That day I chose to believe what God had spoken in times past regardless of how I felt at the moment. As I confessed the truth of His word, hope sprang up and faith arose. I repented for basing my beliefs and words on what I felt or didn’t feel and set my heart hard on the baseline of Scripture. Friends, I write this today because I know many, many of you are struggling in a similar way. We all do at times. I just want you to know there is a way out.
Put your trust in God and what He promised, not on how you feel. It will set you free!
September 9th, 2009 at 10:39 am
A timely word. As usual
September 9th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I SO needed this one today Michael! Thank you!
September 9th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I don’t always agree with you but on this subject I must agree wholeheartedly. GOD does stand in the gap everyday in so many ways. I haven’t found a job in over a year and GOD has taken care of me in so many ways. When I let the desperation take over its GOD who pulls me back. We all need to let JESUS wrap his arms around us and know we are loved no matter what. Welcome each day with the knowledge that we are truely saved and our father will give us what we need.
Thanks
September 9th, 2009 at 10:47 am
My favorite is ….He FIRST loved me, so I love Him….
September 9th, 2009 at 11:04 am
what a beautiful passage from the AMP in Hebrews.
Thanks for sharing …i plan on passing it along to many men today.
ricky
September 9th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Hallelu YAH! Our Papa Dios is so amazing! We will never know the unsearchable greatness of every act of obedience, let alone how far reaching that act can go or who or how many it will effect. Michael, your word today is a Word of confirmation to many, and to individuals as well. And even now, hahahaha, He is touching hearts, see, just like that, hahahaha, and restoring the joy of our salvation.
Thanks for your faithfulness,
Brother Ray.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Yes, the devil is a liar and he takes advantage when we’re down. But God. . . is there for us continually to lift us up out of the mire by us taking the initiative and using His tools - PRAISE, and His promises — to get out of the doubt, fear, etc. God bless you!
September 9th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hi there everyone! Yes, this is sooooooooooooo true. But what is even more true is the fact that the Holy spirit (comforter), has a job too! Just allow him to do it.
Peace x
September 9th, 2009 at 11:35 am
M.
Oh boy, did I need this today! Casting down those little lies from the enemy seems to be a priority for me lately as I am pressing in to a higher level of faith and stepping out in faith to pursue my own biz. I’m sure the devil doesn’t mind if we stay level in our faith, but he gets really upset when we press in and desire to rise higher. Well, take this devil- greater is he who is in me, than he who is in the world. I’ve decided to just believe God and trust that he is working behind the scene on my behalf. We have a lot to do for the Lord so we need to just shake off the doubt and fear and go for it!
September 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Absolutely true.
We know it and have experienced His faithfulness and provision time after time, but somehow when the circumstances are different it can all be overwhelming. It is a powerful thing to bring into rememberance the many times God has been faithful and answered our prayers in the past. I have gone through a time recently when I have prayed and exactly the opposite would happen. My first questions are “Father God, where are you? What is happening?” But I am reminded to rejoice always, pray continually and in everything give thanks. I do not have to understand what is happening. I can thank and praise Him simply because He is worthy! God can absolutely do something totally new and different because He is God! “Eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, nor the mind conceived what God has in store for those who love Him” ICor.2
Just now I am not sure where my wife and 4 kids are going to be living in the next several weeks. Not to go into detail, but we are in an impossible situation in the natural. I am trying to keep my focus on God and remember “is there anything too difficult for God?”
Thanks for the encouraging words and your prayers.
God Bless!
September 9th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Jesus is LORD. It’s what GOD says that counts. I appreciate this word for this day. In a trial right now and GOD has told me to praise HIM in the good and the bad, and will Iget be bitter or better when I go through. It’s been hard, but I praise HIM for what HE is to me.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I believe GOD gave you this scripture for me today. Even though I am not feelings abandoned by HIM I am dealing with a spouse that has been less than candid about our finances. This might result in a situation of homelessness for me, but I know HE is faithful and my heart desire has been for a committed spouse (as opposed to religious, church goer). I know HE has to orchestrate circumstances to get our attention. I also know when “the two become one flesh” those attention getting situations are not isolated from the either spouse. Thanks for the scripture. Bless you. In HIM, K
September 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Michael - Thank you for always being transparent with us in your journey.
A Fellow Pilgrim
JD
September 9th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Thanks, Michael, for sharing with us the obvious, when our earthly thinking gets “grounded” by unbelief, fear & doubt. We must empower ourselves through Praise. That is the only way we can keep our spirits in tune with the One who can keep us “up” in a “down” world.
Psalms 34:1 says: “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
We must keep our spiritual “radio” on & listen to the Master’s voice.
Thanks, again for being “right on”!!
September 10th, 2009 at 12:27 am
God is good all the time! I tend to “shut down” when I feel out of sorts or alone. When I “shut down” I have as little interaction with others as possible. I have been “down” for the last two days seeking a word from God and going through the exact things you described. However, God sent this word from you at a time when I needed to know that I am not alone. He definitely knows what I need, when I need it.
Thank you,
Sylvia
September 10th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Amen, Michael, for being vulnerable before us although you have accomplished much so far….a testimony of the brokenness in all of us and that we are not alone in this journey.
w/ HISTeam that works in His marketplace,
Benjie B. Caballero
Mla, Phils.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I have so enjoyed your daily messages and as usual they always seem to be exactly what I need when I need them. This one today is so right on. I am in transition on so many levels right now and sometimes I wonder where God is in all of it. Then, I read your message or receive some other timely one including “Quiet Moments with God” by Lloyd John Ogilivie that I send out daily to some of my friends who send it to some of their friends, etc. I forward yours also to this same group. And I know - YES, our heavenly Father is taking care of us.
Thank you.
Sally Fotou
September 18th, 2009 at 2:09 am
There are many times we feel down and desperate and ask the question
‘why me’, but God is there watching over us, and everything has a
purpose in our lives. We may not realize it immediately, but as time
passes and you come out of the bad times it suddenly dawns on you
that yes, there was a reason. Thank you for sharing those comforting
thoughts with us, and take comfort that GOD IS THERE WATCHING
OVER US.
rHONA