The book of Jeremiah contains some of God's most promising and magnificent words: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." You will find me" (Jeremiah 29:13–14). And it appears that, in our search for God, He would like to remind us of this incredible promise. We're in a lot of pain, therefore we're praying a lot. We're in a bad mood, so we pray to God for help. But sometimes all we get in response is a deafening stillness that drowns out all other thoughts save one: God isn't listening. "Has God abandoned me?" we wonder.
"Will the Lord refuse forever?" the Bible asks, referring to appeals for rescue from individuals seeking God. Will he never favour you again? Is his unwavering love gone for good? "Has his vow been broken for good?" (7–8) (Psalm 77:7–8)
"O God, do not keep mute; be not quiet, O God, be not still," says the psalmist, expressing the heart of someone seeking God (Psalm 83:1).
Even for individuals who have a relationship with God, finding God might be challenging at times. Changes in life cause uncertainty: a job loss, a divorce, a work advancement, the birth of a child are just a few examples. These life's unexpected twists and turns have been dubbed "divine interruptions" by some. Even if the change is for the better, it can disrupt our sense of well-being and make us feel alone. "Where is God, anyway?" one could wonder. "How come I'm having such a hard time discovering God?"
It's crucial to remember that the promise of Jeremiah 29:13–14 is never undermined by our subjective sentiments when it comes to seeking God. Just because we think God is far away doesn't imply He really is. In reality, He has promised that He will never abandon or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5). We reject false conclusions about our circumstances when they contradict what we know about God from His Word, since God never lies. We walk by faith rather than sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
We need to go back to Psalm 77 to find the secret to finding God. After lamenting that God has abandoned him and that His love has faded (verses 7–8), the psalmist comes to his senses and writes verses 11–12, offering us the two-part answer to feeling abandoned by God: "I will remember the LORD's works; yes, I will remember your long-ago marvels." I'll think about all of your works and all of your great actions." First and foremost, the psalmist resolves to remember God's actions and marvels. Second, the psalmist resolves to focus on God's Word in order to achieve his goal of discovering God. The only definite method to get to the appropriate conclusions about God is to meditate on God's Word. We remember and dwell on His magnificent works as we embark on the never-ending search to find God in every single day, and we welcome His "divine interruptions."
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