One of those days?

Have you ever had one of those days where all your faith and understanding of God has...er... gone?  It seems as if the plug has been pulled on your walk and you are all alone.  Unless fully understood we can do as the Psalmist does in Psalm 77 and reach conclusions that are contrary to God's nature.

 7 Will the Lord reject for ever?
    Will he never show his favour again?
8 8 Has his unfailing love vanished for ever?
    Has his promise failed for all time?
9 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?’

This type of feeling can go on for quite a while and it is for the same reason the Psalmist is expressing his lament.  In the Old Testament the people were carted off to be exiled so they will realise how awesome God is and return to Him.  This can be one reason we have periods of time where it appears God has pulled the rug.  What is actually happening in a believers life is extraordinary grace.  God is allowing us to rediscover His acceptance, favour, unfailing love, solid promises, His mercy and compassion.  These are all opposites of  how the Psalmist was feeling and how we can feel at these times.

Have we been exiled at these times?  Not like the Old Testament exiles but similar.  Exile, although punishment, was a form of love for the chosen nation.  I have had to punish my own children knowing with a heavy heart it will set them up for future success.  Wrath is not punishing them and letting them emerge into a disaster in their lives.  So this is why, when we feel pretty abandoned we can rejoice... The Lord has decided to deal with us as children rather than let us go off and cast off restraint.  

So what do we do at these times when rejoicing is a theory and we feel dreadful?  The answer is to look to the cross.  In the event at Calvary is God showing you and me that He will go that far for my sake.  You and I are so outrageously valued that God would crush His own Son to make sure I had the option to be saved.  Then, if that wasn't enough, He would then make you able to see the truth about the Gospel.  Then, if God hasn't done everything to show his love-nature, He decides to play hide and seek until you search and re-find Him.  Lets itemise what God has done:

1.  He provides the means for you to be rescued at His own personal cost

2.  He takes the blindfold off that you weld to your face because of sin.

3.  He watches over us and, knowing we will only find life in Him, makes us search.

So when people say 'look to the cross' they mean 'remember how God has declared his love for you.'  This is triple-true when it feels like hes gone.  Have a nice day!

Gary Ward