God’s Presence, Our Pain

Laura Digan April 02, 2023 0 1

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Psalm 13 (NRSVA)

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear pain in my soul,
    and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
    my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

There is someone in my family, who when they are really upset with you, they will give you the silent treatment.

I hate the silent treatment. When I’m upset — whether angry, sad, or disappointed — then it explodes. It is out there and then I can move on.

But my family member can give you the silent treatment for weeks when they are really upset with you.

I hate it. I’d rather they screamed at me! Or cried! Just get it over with.

Sometimes, if we are honest, it can feel like God is giving us the silent treatment.

That God is far away, ignoring us.

Sometimes it can even feel like God has removed his blessing from us.

But can he really be ignoring us, when he wanted to be with us so much that he came down to earth in the form of Jesus, to live among us, giving us an example for living?

Has he really withdrawn his blessing if he willingly went to the cross to die for our sins?

Perhaps it is my pain that is the barrier to feeling God’s presence.

Perhaps it is my shame that stops me from hearing his voice.

Perhaps it is my hurt closed heart that prevents me seeing his answers to my prayers.

PRAYER:

Lord God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

I long to be close to you,

Help me to feel your presence today.

I long to hear your voice,

Open me to all the ways you are speaking to me today.

I long for love,

Unfreeze my heart Lord,

And fill me with your love.

Amen