Everyone goes through a time of feeling, “I can’t see You, God. They may feel discouraged, tired, and even disillusioned. This world, in its fallen state, is a place where it’s not only possible to feel these things at some point. It’s very likely! The human spirit cries out – “Where are You, God? I’ve lost sight of You, and I need You.”
Life is Hard!
Perhaps you are in one of those times right now. Life is just hard! You’ve discovered the constant drain of daily living, and it’s sometimes overwhelming. The obstacles, challenges, and problem-solving demands loom over your tiredness. Your losses tear at your broken heart. Even while good things are still present, and you can even list God’s blessings, sometimes there are long stretches that require moving forward in blind faith. That’s hard. You feel you are groping in darkness.
During such times, determine to be a living sacrifice. (Rom. 12:1)
You have seen good and troubles co-exist, side by side. Still, many days it feels super-human to manage it all. And as the scourge of life endures, you come face to face with your human “littleness.”
This is where God comes on the scene. He knows this broken life is hard. He is very near you and wants to help. Sometimes, God makes darkness His covering. Why does God do that at times? You feel alone.
Can’t See You, God!
The most important thing to God is your faith in who He is. No matter what your feelings are doing, invest your very heart into the relationship with God through the eyes of faith. It feels like a risk – a jump off a cliff – to trust God against all odds. However, if you do this, you will see God increasingly. He has purposed to make Himself known. He wants to be found. Scripture says,
- “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6)
- “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Gal. 5:6)
- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mk. 12:30)
- “But if . . . you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deut. 4:29)
The Original Temptation: Where Are You, God?
Temptation is a planting by God’s enemy in the hearts of people – to doubt God. To question His heart and motives toward them. To be skeptical about trusting God. The best path away from this original temptation is to throw yourself into loving and trusting God implicitly (whether or not you feel like it).
To love and trust God in this manner, you must be commit and work to:
- Daily spend time alone with God in His Word and in prayer.
- Memorize and meditate (visualize application) of Scripture in your life.
- Be surrendered – as a “living sacrifice.”
- Practice being flexible, resilient, and resolved.
- Engage creativity from God to solve problems.
- Interact and communicate in helpful ways with others.
- Pursue continued development in life skills, new technology, and life management.
- Take responsibility for life management, health, and fitness.
- Faithfully serve in your home, job, and community.
- And . . . stay sane! Paul says it better – “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Phil. 4:4)
What a life! How does a person manage all this? How can you live balanced when life threatens to throw you off every day?
Reminders to Yourself When You Can’t See God
It helps to intentionally remind yourself of true things when you hear yourself say, “I can’t see You, God! Where are You?” You need to get your bearings to navigate when life is foggy.
Write these down as “Dependables” in your life. You can use your journal, sticky notes, reminders on your device – be creative! But you must connect in these five areas of truth. God is in them. You will find Him as you come near Him in your heart by faith.
God’s Love
God loves you and will never stop loving you. He said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jer. 31:3)
Sometimes God Cannot Be Seen – and That’s OK
He may be hidden in your circumstances, but He is right with you. God has purposes you cannot know or understand, but He can be trusted completely. “He made darkness His covering, His canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.” (Ps. 18:11) “The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.“ (Ps. 145:13)
God Intends to Build You Up
When you are beaten down, worn-out, or discouraged, God will be even closer to you. He intends to build you up in Himself. The Scriptures promise, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18) ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you . . . “ (Jer. 42:10)
Nothing is Too Hard For God
God will give you whatever you need to live your life in Him. He has all power, so that’s not hard for Him in the least! “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him . . . “ (2 Pet. 1:3a) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mt. 28:18)
God Wants Your Plans in Him to Succeed
God will make your efforts count if you align all your life details with His purposes. He will make your plans (under His direction) succeed. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” (Ps. 37:5-6) “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Prov. 16:3)
When “I Can’t See You, God” – What Do You Tell Him?
Here is a prayer with some things you can tell God:
“God, I know You are here . . . somewhere. You say You are very close, and I choose to believe You. But I feel so alone as I address the issues in my life right now. I’m tempted to “pretend” – just to make things better more quickly. I desperately want to “fix it” because Your timing is different than mine. And sometimes I just want to “look the other way” or “call it something else.” There are even times it doesn’t seem such a compromise to “see it the way most others do.” But I know Your Word says I need to look at all life issues with Your perspective.
So, give me courage to act by faith on the principles of Your Word. I choose to believe You are with me, inside me, guiding me. Help me be patient for Your timing. Would You also comfort me and assure me of Your presence and approval? And wherever I might be missing something, show me that, too. I want to please You. And I love you back.”
Application Thoughts and Questions
When you feel like giving up – don’t! Instead, turn to the Lord who is eager to receive you to Himself. In human realities, God shows and proves Himself. So when you bring all your self and situations to Him, you actually give Him a stage on which to display His interventions and love for you. Why not engage this incredible opportunity? Why not let your inability to see God in your circumstances be a statement of your resolved faith in Him?
Pick up your journal or device and share your heart with God. Tell Him you accept His Word and His love for you. Pour out hurts, fears, shortcoming, everything to Him. He wants to hear your heart. But He wants to honor your faith as an observable testimony in the “world of men.” God wants to showcase His creative answers to your needs.
“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you . . . quiet you with His love . . . rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17)
