“Because this world makes us feel so unnoticed, we sometimes begin to believe God can’t see us either. Or maybe He just doesn’t care. Or He has too much to do…” –Angela Thomas, Do You Know Who I Am?
Have you ever felt this way? I have. I’ll admit that I once caught myself thinking that since it was Easter weekend, God was too busy for me and my problems.
And that, my friends, is what the enemy wants us to believe! Satan rejoices when we think God is too busy to notice us, doesn’t care, or doesn’t love us. But the enemy is wrong! And we have to recognize these thoughts the moment we start thinking them before they start to take hold in our minds and feelings.
The Truth is God sees us, hears us, and is with us every moment of every day. He loves us and cares for us.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 NIV
God never leaves us, and when we cry out to Him, He hears us! He sees our pain and does not turn away.
As we go through difficult times, we are not invisible to God. Sometimes He will stop the storm we are in, but when He doesn’t, there is a purpose for our being there. And God is there with us to lead us and walk us through the storm.
So many times I don’t know the purpose for the situation I have to go through. Whether it’s the result of my own poor choices or something that is out of my control, I wish God would take it away. But God knows the purpose. Often, there is something He wants to show me in the midst of what I’m going through—something I won’t learn if He just takes it away.
It is in the struggles of life where there can be greater growth than when everything is going smoothly. We learn to trust and lean on God. He brings us to a place of complete dependence on Him. When we are at our weakest and not trying to do it all on our own—that is we can see the magnificence of His work. We see things happen that can only be God’s work.
Often when I’m trudging through life God is preparing me for something in the future. During the preparation, I don’t see it and I don’t understand it. But when I look back months or years later, I can see the work He was doing in me, preparing me for what He’s called me to—a calling that I would not be equipped for without going through what may have seemed like a time of waiting or doing nothing.
God is not cruel. He doesn’t make us go through painful situations just to see us suffer. I do believe, though, that at times He will allow us to go through them. Sometimes what we’re walking through is a consequence of our own behavior, while other times it’s of no fault of our own. Either way, God can and will bring good from everything for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
When I’m struggling and find myself asking God why He’s not doing something, it helps me to remember a few things.
First, God is with me and I know that He hears me. I am not invisible to Him.
Second, God is not ignoring me, but when the situation continues, I ask myself what God might be trying to show me. What does He want me to learn from this?
Lastly, it may feel like God isn’t doing anything to relieve the pain. But think about this for a moment…what might He be shouldering before it ever gets to us? In those times, I can see how it could be much worse, but for reasons I cannot explain, it isn’t.
What I can’t explain, God can. That’s because He is intimately involved in my life.
And He is intimately involved in your life too.
In Christ,
Laura
Linking up with On Your Heart Tuesday, Just Write, Women Living Well Wednesday, Winsome Wednesday, and Word Filled Wednesday.
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