“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (v1-4,7-11)
At this point in their journey, the Psalmist is lamenting – they feel like God is far away, and has turned His back. There is longing, mourning, weeping, suffering and questioning because of the gap between them and God. Yet there is hope – with persistent reflection and prayer, a song in the heart and trust in God the Psalmist continues to praise their Savior and God, even when they feel He is far away.
I’m not sure about you, but I go through seasons in my life where God feel far away or distant, where I don’t feel His presence or hear His voice. Why does this happen? What can we do (if anything) to restore this possible brokenness in our relationship with the Father?
One of my favorite books in the Bible is James, which offers deep and practical wisdom for a variety of common pitfalls and difficulties. Some tips on fixing a broken relationship with God are contained within. There are two main paths James considers in this type of circumstance:
1. We are far from God because we have sinned – “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (Jas 4:4,7-10)
2. We are far from God because He is allowing us to be tested and grow – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (Jas 1:2-4,12)
No matter why God seems distant to us, the same wisdom is offered as a solution – we are to humble ourselves before God and persevere, knowing this dry and difficult time will not last forever. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Pet 5:8-10)
Father, we praise you in advance for restoring us, strengthening us, and lifting us up. We don’t always know why or for how long You will hide your face from us, though we can trust in Your promises of a crown of life on the other side of perseverance, making us even more steadfast and complete so we lack nothing. May we continue to live our lives in You, rooted and built up in You, strengthened in the faith as we were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Jas 1:4,12; Col 2:6-7 par)
~ Conqueror in Training