“Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceived him not” – Job 9:11(KJV).
God is never absent in our crisis. He promised to be with us always even till the close of the age. He said he will never leave us or forsake us. Friends may get tired of bearing with us and so abandon us in times of trouble but God will never leave or forsake us. He is always there to deliver us when we invite him into our trouble. He does not invade our lives he only gets involved when we invite him. “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shall glorify me” – Psalm 50:15 (KJV). God responds in answer to prayers. He wants to get involved in the affairs of our lives. He loves us too much to abandon us. We may not like everything God permits to come our way but one thing is sure, God loves and cares for us. Crisis of life may affect our perspective in life or our perception of God but the fact remains that God means good for us and He identifies with us in our troubles and pains. He is such a merciful High Priest that is touched with the feelings of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). God understands our human weaknesses and he stands by us to help us and even carry us where our feet or faith cannot carry us.
We are sometimes blinded by the pressure of our challenges making it difficult to perceive him. We sometimes feel abandoned and left to sort out ourselves but that is very far from being the truth. The accuser of the brethren may paint a picture that we are alone in our world to solve our problems or manage our life’s crisis but Satan is a liar. He tries to make us believe the lie that God does not love us as his word portrays. He conceals the blessings and trace of God’s care and only projects the problem to blind us from God’s protection and provisions. Believing the lies of the devil will make us loose sight of God’s love and care.
There are times though, we may not be able to trace God in our crisis but we must lean to trust him even when we cannot trace him, because he is right there beside us. We must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Inability to trace or perceive God will open door for fear, worries and despair. But if we can perceive God or trust God by faith, fear will give way for faith, and anxiety will give way for peace and despair will give way for hope.
PRAYER: Oh God help me to perceive you in my life’s crisis.
Rev. Vincent Diolu