Hide and Seek

Have you ever felt like David did in Psalm 22:1-2 (NLT)? (You wonder where the Almighty is hiding. You desperately need to discover His location.)

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to You, my God, but You do not answer. Every night You hear my voice, but I find no relief.”  Does your life ever seem like a children’s top that is spinning wildly out of control (to total mayhem)?

Though it may not always seem so, the Almighty is hard at work (on your behalf) right now just as Romans 8:26-32 (MSG) says He is:

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray it doesn’t matter, He does our praying…for us. Making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans; He knows us far better than we know ourselves… and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original (and intended) shape of our lives there in Him.

After [God] called [us] by name, He set [us] on a solid basis with Himself. And then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else He wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?”

The Holy Spirit is praying for you.  Do you ever have those moments where the challenges of life become so great that you are unsure exactly what you need to ask the Heavenly Father for?

“Never pray like you have to personally persuade God what is best for you.” Instead, remember the reality of verse two and the chorus from a song I was familiar with as a young adult.

Have the clouds 'round you gathered in the midst of a storm
Is your ship tossed and battered Are you weary and worn
Don't lose hope someone's praying For you this very day
And peace be still is already on the way

Someone is praying for you
Someone is praying for you
And when it seems you're all alone

And your heart would break in two
Remember someone is praying for you

God is adjusting every event in your life for His ultimate purpose. Like Joseph (of the Old Testament), we want to that our struggles have a greater reason for happening. (Genesis 45:5)

Do you wonder at times if this quote (from the 2003 film, Bruce Almighty) could possibly be true of the Almighty? “God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I'm the ant. He could fix my life in five minutes if He wanted to, but he'd rather burn off my feelers and watch me squirm.”

The Heavenly Father cares so intimately for all that is going on in your world that Matthew 10:30 (ERV) assures you of this: “God even knows how many hairs are on your head.”

The Almighty is always fighting for you with the end goal of you becoming a better reflection of His Son, Jesus. The chorus of DeGarmo and Key’s song, "Destined to Win,” conveys to us all a conqueror’s attitude every follower of Christ must have (even when they don’t feel like it).

 

We are destined to win,
We're surrounded by his love,

Guarded by His power,
Destined to win,
Following the Lord until the battle's over,
We are destined to win.

The Heavenly Father provides you with what He sees you need, and not necessarily what you want. (Psalm 37:25-26). His persistent love for you is masterfully communicated in the chorus of Jesus Culture’s anthem, “Fierce.”

Like a tidal wave
Crashing over me
Rushing in to meet me here
Your love is fierce
Like a hurricane
That I can't escape
Tearing through the atmosphere
Your love is fierce

"If Jesus is the Son of God, His teachings are more than just good ideas from a wise teacher; they are divine insights on which I can confidently build my life." (Lee Strobel)

Knowing Jesus is always with you can be both comforting (in His reliable presence) and convicting (in communicating life areas that need change). Joshua 1:9(ERV) reminds us:

“Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As crucial as it is to know the Heavenly Father is always with you, Lee Strobel provides this accurate solution on becoming more connected to your spiritual side.

 

"If you're a follower of Jesus but you feel distant from him during this era of your life, if you're having difficulty resting easy in his forgiveness, could it be because you're blatantly refusing to let go of your animosity toward another person." 

*Inspired by the sermon “Because You Belong…God Is Working for You!” (Installment Five) Pastor Dave Jansen, August 14, 2016, CenterPoint Church Gahanna, Gahanna, OH