I've heard many Christians say they feel abandoned by God because they can no longer feel His presence...this is a sad position in which to find yourself - needing to "feel" God and "know" that He is there with you.
This phenomenon is not supported anywhere in the Bible in the way that "sensing God's presence" is an emotion which we can pin-point. In the Old Testament, God would make His presence known through various means such as fire or miracles, but in the New Testament, Jesus arrives on the scene. For a brief 33 years, man has the privilege of walking with God in His physical form. Before Jesus is crucified, God sends the third portion of the amazing trinity - the Holy Spirit. In John 14 we see His followers concerned about how they will move on with His impending absence. He assures them in verse 16, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever". This tells us plainly that we will have the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. It is somewhat of a slap to God's face to be pleading, "I don't feel you!", when He is essentially with us at all times. What we need to be doing is spending time communing with and praising Him. We will then see the fruit of the spirit which we are seeking - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22). There won't be a lack or emptiness in our spirit because it will be filled with the very presence of God - His Holy Spirit. If we are seeking Him, we are clearly advised, "No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:12. God's presence is dependent upon us loving one another, not lying awake in bed at night begging "God, where ARE you?!", hoping for a supernatural warm fuzzy. We must have faith in God, in His existence, and in His very real love for us - whether or not our emotions confirm it. If we don't have faith in that abiding presence, are we truly believing in God? Are we sincerely living out the title of "Christian", or "Christ-follower"?
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October 2016
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