16/08/2026
MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? 2
We perceive God as distant for a reason. Often, we do so because of the pain we are enduring, such as the loss of a loved one, an illness, a tragedy, or a hardship. Anger and sorrow can well up inside of us, making us question why the Lord allowed the events to happen, which in turn, places distance between us and Him.
Or we could be struggling with a sin. Christ was and is sinless, but the Father turned away because the Son bore the Sins of Us All, enduring the punishment we deserved. We will never have to experience the pain of separation that our Saviour did on the cross if we have trusted in Him for salvation. However, the presence of sin in our lives can make us push the Lord away from us. We do what Adam and Eve did in the garden by hiding ourselves from Him. But even then, God pursued them just as He does when we choose to do wrong. Jesus died on the cross while we were still sinners, demonstrating His great love (Romans 5:8). We do not have to question whether God cares when we think He has turned away.
We cannot divorce our faith from our feelings, for God created us with emotions. We can, however, recognize that our faith is much more than what we feel or see. Those seasons of spiritual dryness may leave us weary and wondering where the Lord is, but He remains as close as a friend; yes, closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). For our Lord promised that He would be with us always. That remains true whether we feel Him or not.
To be continued.