When God seems distant

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39)

I had a rough two weeks early in the month of December, and generally ups and downs all through the month. So rough I did not expect to write this blog anytime soon. What happens if you rely on the spirit of God to put down anything and that Spirit is not in you.

It is only by grace that I write to you today. I feel humbled that no matter how undeserving I am, the Lord still put in me something to share with you. I went on a stay-cation to Abudhabi, 2 hours by bus from Dubai, just to refresh and reflect and the Lord was faithful to speak to me during my short stay.

He gave me not one but three blog posts! Yes! I have 2 more blogs lined up to share my experience with you and the things that God taught me and that He wants you to partake of. I think I will name this 3 blog post series 'Abudhabi diaries' :-) It's going to be up close and personal.Look out for that in the coming weeks it will be worth the read.

So what had made my two weeks rough? At some point towards the end of the year, God brought me to a point of surrender and He started to confront the way that I live my life. I felt wild, motivated, unstoppable and so connected to God and my purpose. Literally tackling each day in His power. I beat the deadline for my last blog post and was sure I had another one coming the week that followed.

Then came the week that followed... and an immense feeling of detachment from God crept in. It felt as though God was very distant. As though I was all alone.

When we start our walk with God, sometimes I think we get it all wrong. That henceforth, we will feel His presence and be on fire for Him full time. Then in times when this is not the case, doubt creeps and we fall back to sin.

We fail to realize that feelings can be deceitful and that it is in these moments that we should hold fast to the truth that we are children of God and that He will never leave us nor forsake us instead of allowing doubt to prevail over the truth.

Through the two weeks, I found myself questioning God like... but I thought you and me are now locked for good. so? not really? In my questioning, I slowly drifted into sin and went back to living as though I do not understand whose I am.

It came to me as a surprise because, considering the kind of relationship we had mutually worked out together through the days, there were no chances of going back to who I used to be. Or so I thought. There is no doubt that we are new creations but we still need to guard our hearts.

We get so confident sometimes in what God is doing that we forget to be vigilant to protect the gift of Grace. We overlook the fact that we are made of flesh and blood and that the devil is a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. But I thank God for grace. For in the same flesh and blood is in it the Breath of God. The life breathed in us that brings us back to our knees.

I am reminded of the story of Job in the book of Job at a time I would like to think that God had hidden His face from him. The fact that He hid his face from Job does not mean that He had left Him. In fact, if you read the book of Job, God was watching all that was happening to him. He was there even when Job did not see it. When family and friends rejected him and he lost all that he had, God was still up in His business.

In times when you feel overwhelmed and in doubt, I suggest that you hold fast to the truth of who God says you are and the precision of his promises, instead of being guided by what you are feeling. It is a lie from the devil to destruct and derail you from the great purpose that God has for you.

In the face of darkness, God still is there. Maybe our faith is being tested. Maybe just maybe he knows why.

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand." (Job 38:4)

The story of Job intrigues me because he kept trusting God to the very end. He refused to neither lose trust in God nor conform to the lies of the devil. Even though sometimes he would question and lament, he learnt to trust in God regardless. He remained righteous, regardless.

I can not promise you that you will not fall time to time. Neither can I promise that life your life will not have ups and downs. I can not tell you that it is okay to give in to temptation. But I can promise you that God is doing something new in your life and if you cling on to Him regardless, He will bring it to completion. If you obey Him and serve Him, you will spend the rest of your days in prosperity and your years in contentment. (Job 36:11)

We need to stay sensitive to our human nature and acknowledge our weaknesses to God so that His strength may be made manifest. That we will not be overconfident with what God has already done but instead trust in Him and be patient to receive what He is about to do.

God had already blessed Job. He was wealthy. Little did He know that He would lose it all. But because He kept walking with God, He lived to see God restore a double portion of everything he had lost.

"And unto Him, that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20)

I pray that you never give up even in times when it seems as though God is distant. He is watching to see if you keep the faith, and if you do, you are in for a surprise.

For "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1st Corinthians 2:9)

Check out this amazing song by Hillsong United

God bless you and keep you in His purpose

Lots of love,

Joanna