What does it REALLY mean to 'walk by faith'? A hope-filled message for you if you feel like God doesn't care about your pain and isn't hearing your prayers. The time God didn't "show off" taught me lessons about answered prayers. We can trust God's timing.

3 foundations to cling to when you think God is distant

From the time God “didn’t show off” ~ a lesson learned about walking by faith. Do you feel left out? All around you see evidence of others’ answered prayers but it feels like God is distant from you.

On the first morning of a family vacation to the North Carolina coast, I awoke to find my husband and my baby were missing. They had beat me to the beach and were playing in the water.

Above them, “the blue” was beginning to transition from grey to shades of pink and orange as the sun hinted at its arrival. And when it did make its appearance, we were not disappointed. The sky was ablaze with God’s majesty, proclaiming His handiwork.

“God’s just showing off. Because He can,”
reverberated in my mind.

What does it REALLY mean to 'walk by faith'? A hope-filled message for you if you feel like God doesn't care about your pain and isn't hearing your prayers. The time God didn't "show off" taught me lessons about answered prayers. We can trust God's timing.

 

We took a morning walk along the beach after breakfast and I snapped pictures of others’ footprints, noticing how quickly they disappeared once the tide reached the imprint. We built a family sand castle and then returned to sit and watch the ocean reclaim the building materials later that afternoon. And the day ended with yet another firmament on fire. It was a glorious day.

 

What does it REALLY mean to 'walk by faith'? A hope-filled message for you if you feel like God doesn't care about your pain and isn't hearing your prayers. The time God didn't "show off" taught me lessons about answered prayers. We can trust God's timing.

 

Twice that day I stood on the beach, toes in the sand, and worshipped. My heart was full and so aware of God’s presence and His power. Worries from the previous few weeks seemed to follow the pattern of those footprints ~ washed away. Both morning and evening, I filled my phone with photos. Way too many photos.

 

What does it REALLY mean to 'walk by faith'? A hope-filled message for you if you feel like God doesn't care about your pain and isn't hearing your prayers. The time God didn't "show off" taught me lessons about answered prayers. We can trust God's timing.

 

I woke up even earlier the next morning with a plan. My husband and I took chairs and the thermal carafe of coffee to the shore. I would savor every moment of sunrise and linger. We positioned ourselves to wait.

But this morning was different. Clouds had moved in.
No pinks. No orange. No sky on fire. No showing off.
The clouds were so thick we couldn’t see the sun ball at all.
The sun still rose, but there was no evidence beyond the diffused light.


Reflecting on the time God didn’t “show off”

I don’t have pictures to show from that morning. They didn’t inspire clicks.
There was no breathtaking commentary.
But as I sat there staring at the drab — yet enlightened — horizon, I pondered what it illustrated about faith.

The same sun that rose the day before had risen on that morning, even though I couldn’t see it. I was confident.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1)

The same God who had “shown off the night before” was on His throne that dull morning. No doubt.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8)

The lack of wonder in His creation didn’t cause me to wonder if He still cared about His child. I was certain.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
1If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.

(Psalm 139:17-18)

We will all have times in life when it feels like God didn’t “show off” and is distant or unconcerned with the details of our lives. In those times, here are three truths we can know for certain, even when the light stays behind the clouds.

[x_custom_headline type=”center” level=”h1″ looks_like=”h2″ accent=”false”]3 Truths when it seems God is distant[/x_custom_headline]

1. What is known cannot trump what is seen

We have no problem reconciling the shifting seasons and unpredictable weather with a God who never changes. But when the storms of life move in or the days of gray skies linger longer than we like ~ well, that can sometimes be a challenge.

Why is that?

  • I think we sometimes confuse “showing off” with “showing up.”
  • We begin to base our faith on the evidence of answered prayers instead of the promise of a God who hears.
  • We let our emotions and experiences tell the story in our head instead of defining the narrative with the truth of God’s Word.

But when it comes to faith:
What is seen (or not seen)
cannot trump what is known.

There is no substitute for Scripture – not even the sense of God’s presence, the power we feel when we pray, or the times when He provides an answer in an unmistakable way.
Those are glorious blessings of walking in faith, but there will be times that walking by faith means simply stepping from one promise to another in God’s Word.

When all is stripped away,
one thing remains.
“The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8)

2. Answered prayers are a blessing, not a cornerstone of faith

We naturally gravitate toward, record, and recount painted sky moments. The #blessed #nofilter instagram-worthy images and occasions.

There’s nothing wrong with those and celebrating answered prayers is good. Doing so causes us to reflect on God’s providence in our lives and give Him glory for all that is praiseworthy.

In today’s world, we have countless mediums and platforms to share the good news of healed bodies, saved souls, and restored relationships.

But defining whether or not
God is hearing us
by looking for the evidence
of His working
can morph into another form of
walking by sight.

If those times of empirical evidence become the source for determining if God “showed up,” then we are building sandcastles in the sand.

The cornerstone of salvation is Jesus himself and the building blocks of our faith must be His Word. Period.

Dear reader, this message is one I have lived to write about.
During a season of trials and setbacks, my prayers were seemingly answered with, “Cricket. Cricket.” I cried out to God and blasted praise music like it was a can of Lysol. Nothing.

So that brings me to the last truth.

3. The Word will sustain even when other spiritual experiences fail.

I was left with this question: “Is His Word enough?” God’s Word had to sustain me when other spiritual experiences seemingly failed me. And The Word didn’t fail.

But it was through that experience of being pruned from answered prayers that the roots of my faith stretched deeper.
It was an unexpected experience.

Prior to that time of life, I never would have thought of answered prayers as being a crutch and a hindrance to growth. But in hindsight I understand. And sitting on that beach, I saw the lesson in pictures.

I cannot put my trust
in the painted sky.
I can only appreciate its beauty.
Faith must be settled in the light,
even when it stays behind the clouds.

The same is true for you.
You may be in a time of trials.
It may seem that God is distant.
Maybe you are being tested by God or attacked by Satan. You may be even fighting your own flesh.

It may feel like God doesn’t hear your prayers or care about your pain. All around you see evidence of others’ answered prayers and wonder if you’ve been left out.

Despite the way it seems.
Regardless of the way you feel.
Scripture cuts through the darkness with the light of truth. And on those days, weeks, months or even years when you can’t see the color, you can still see the light.

Return to the Light

Return to the source and lean into the Word.
The Word is The Light.
Light itself began with God’s words (Gen. 1:3).
Jesus is both (John 1:1-4).

Get into the Word.

Start with Psalm 139 and if you need help studying the Bible, see my recommendation at the end.

And be assured:

The light will NOT fail you
and the Word WILL sustain you.

Even if it doesn’t seem like
God is “showing off” in your life,
know this:
He has never failed to SHOW UP.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Faith is NOT based on the evidence of answered prayers but on the promise of a God who hears” quote=”Faith is NOT based on the evidence of answered prayers but on the promise of a God who hears”]

[clickToTweet tweet=”Sometimes walking by faith means simply stepping from one promise to another in God’s Word” quote=”Sometimes walking by faith means simply stepping from one promise to another in God’s Word”]]


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Making Life & Words Count!


Comments

38 responses to “3 foundations to cling to when you think God is distant”

  1. Angie Avatar

    I desperately needed to hear this. My world has been shattered, once again, by grief. My faith, which seemed so easy to cling to when we lost our 16 year old son 7 years ago in a car accident, is no longer “easy” to cling to when I received the call 11 days ago that my precious mother had been hit and killed by a car while crossing the street with her new husband of just 16 months. I happened upon your website looking for some scrap of hope, some word of comfort, of truth that would somehow penetrate the numbness of this circumstance. Thank you for this.

  2. Ashley Rowland | HISsparrowBlog Avatar
    Ashley Rowland | HISsparrowBlog

    This post contains such wisdom. I especially liked this line – “Those are glorious blessings of walking in faith, but there will be times that walking by faith means simply stepping from one promise to another in God’s Word.”

  3. Flora Okidia Avatar
    Flora Okidia

    Awesome read. This really made me see things in a new light. I especially love thevfact that He never fails to show up even though he doesn’t show off every time. That’s my blessed assurance.
    God bless you

  4. Thiệu-Tiết Avatar
    Thiệu-Tiết

    Such wisdom, such insight, and such convicting reminder to put our trust and hope in God’s written word.

    I’ve just found your blog an hr or so ago on fb, so timing and providential bc I don’t go searching for blogs.

    Love your wisdom, your logic, your outline, and your layout.

    Thank you, and God’s rich blessings.

    1. Christi Avatar

      Thank you for such sweet encouragement. Hearing that you were drawn into thoughts of trust and hope in God’s Word is precious to me.

      I’m glad you are here!

  5. Karen M. Roth Avatar

    I found you through Melanie Redd. I am so glad I did. I so needed this message today more than you will ever realize. you see, I laid prostrate across my bed today after my husband left to go for a walk with our dog and just wept and cried out for healing of Mind, Emotions, Body, and Soul.

    I am currently being tested for 3 different Cancers and suffering from multiple painful Chronic Illnesses. My medical Records have been held in an investigation and so that has held up every single Test and Doctor I need to see. To give you an example: I have been waiting for my Left Hip MRI to check to see if the Bone Tumor is growing in my leg for a year and a half. I have been so ill since September 10, 2015.

    Today was the first time in two years I have been able to go to Church. I feel numb except for pain and heartache. I also suffer from Complex PTSD which I have had since I was 5 years old and never was diagnosed with it until last year. For me when I feel closest to God is either when I am singing or crafting. Today is the first time I have truly just sang in three years.

    Thanks to a new Friend I met on FB who is new to my Church who helped more than she realizes to see that I had given up on myself and I was letting things get in a very unhealthy way in our apartment and it was truly affecting my health in a very bad way. I was actually so Depressed I was not even eating and I had lost alot of weight and was so physically weak I could not even hang up my own clothing. Before she showed up on the scene I had asked God to send me at least one Friend who truly cared about me and He did but the lessons I learned from him through her mouth were hard ones and I had to meditate on the words for the rest of the day. But then I saw finally that even though I was crying out for people to help me and to be my Friends I was at the same time pushing them away with my Negativity even my own husband.

    I struggle heavily with this as all my life I have had nothing but Negative things happen to me or I was a witness to . I have only longed to share my story to find anyone who is willing just to care, but noone is willing to hear it all as it drains them of energy and Depresses them. So on this earth I have really had noone to help bear my Burdens or to Pray with me. I cannot help what I have been through but I have always hoped that by sharing my Story that perhaps I can save someone from going through the same pain I have been through and to just be an Encouragement to them in some way. To me it is not negativity I see but rather the Glory of God shining forth in my life as I am still here despite everything that has tried to kill me. But people do not see that part of my Testimony for some reason they are just focused on the tragedies and heartache.

    1. Christi Avatar

      I am so sorry for such an unimaginably painful journey. Praying God holds you close and helps you continue to take each step of faith leaning on His everlasting arms. Thank you for being here and sharing your stories. What an amazing testimony.

  6. Grace Esedeke Avatar

    Beautiful post. This post blessed me Christi. Really. I have been the ‘experience’ freak Christian. Always looking for an experience, to feel His presence, to see His power. I’m now starting to value His word more than anything and to be content with it with or without the ‘showing off’.
    Please I’ll like to feature this post on my Friday faves…
    God bless you.
    Have a great weekend.

    1. Christi Avatar

      Hi Grace! So fun to meet a new friend. You are in good company of those striving to value the Word over the “experience.” It’s a journey.

      I’d be honored to be counted among your faves :)

  7. Jen Avatar

    Hi, Christi! I’m stopping by for the third time this week from Grace and Truth! :) I was so excited to see that you had linked this post with us this week because that made choosing a feature so very easy. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord.
    Jen :)

    1. Christi Avatar

      So honored. Thanks, Jen. You are such a sweet spot in my days.

  8. joanneviola Avatar

    Wonderful post! How very true … just because He may not show off today does not mean that He is not showing up. I am so grateful that He is always at work. Blessings!

    1. Christi Avatar

      I join you in that grateful heart!

  9. Andy L. Lee Avatar

    Hey Christi! Found you on the Faith and friends link, and I’m so glad I did. You post was beautiful,especially the pictures, but I love when God shows you how he as other people sharing the message you are for the week. I give a weekly reading plan, and this week has been focused on faith. Your site is great! I’m so impressed with your marketing. You’re doing a great job. Keep up the good work for the Kingdom! Blessings!

    1. Christi Avatar

      Thank you for these kind words and encouragement. Have a beautiful weekend!

  10. Donna Reidland Avatar

    A beautifully written post with a powerful message! I’ve recently been studying the book of Esther. It’s so interesting that God is not mentioned anywhere in the book, but evidence of His work and faithfulness are everywhere! I hope you’ll come link up at Soul Survival. Blessings!

    1. Christi Avatar

      What a beautiful correlation about the book of Esther! Thank you for reminding me of that. I’ll have to check out that linkup. Thanks for being here!

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