He’s still there!

Ever played peek-a-boo with an infant? A 3 month old will show some delight each time he sees your face after you pull your hands away from in front of it. Around 6 months, that delight starts to fade because his brain develops something called ‘object permanence.’ He starts to understand that things exist even though he cannot see them. Before that, when your face disappears into your hands, you ‘go away’ in his understanding. When your face reappears, it’s as though you have returned to him, which produces that response of surprise and/or joy.

The Bible urges us to grow up. Paul chides the Corinthian Christian for their prolonged spiritual infancy. "I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready." (1 Corinthians 3:1-2, NIV) One of the ways we demonstrate immaturity is by falling into despair when we cannot see the face of Jesus! For reasons too numerous to list, there are seasons in life when it seems that He has left us alone. Our prayers lack passion. Our worship produces no joy. Troubles and trials surround us. What then?

Will we wail like a baby or will we stay steady? Will we despair, noisily complaining to anyone within earshot that God has forsaken us? Maturity leads us trust what He has said – "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT) Just like a baby learns that Mommy is still around even if he cannot see her, faith teaches us that God is always there. It may be that our disobedience has brought distance from Him. It may fatigue that causes us to feel alone. It may be that He is allowing us to walk through a testing time. Though we cannot see His face, He has not left us alone.

Every follower of Christ goes through what St. John of the Cross (a 16th century Spanish priest and poet) called ‘the dark night of the soul.’ Even Jesus, as He felt the weight of our sins while He was dying on the Cross, cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Such times of intense doubt or fear are difficult and unpleasant. We need not pretend to enjoy them, but we must persevere; waiting out the circumstances, letting faith inform our daily choices even when our senses scream for soothing and temptation rises on every side.

Here’s a word from the Word - "We live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV) He is there. Trust and obey!

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Often you've wondered why
Tears come into your eyes,
And burdens seem to be
Much more than you can stand.
But God is standing near
He sees your falling tears.
Tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears
Of a broken hearted soul.
He sees your tears
And hears them when they fall.
God weeps along with man
And takes Him by the hand,
Tears are a language
God understands.

When grief has left you low
It causes tears to flow,
Things have not turned out
The way that you had planned,
But God won't forget you,
His promises are true,
Tears are a language God understands.

Tears Are A Language
Jensen, Gordon
© 1971 Jensen Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)

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