Have you ever felt like the Lord was a thousand miles away? Sometimes the daily grind of life can unintentionally force God to the back burner, and we end up asking ourselves, "why do I feel so far away from Jesus?". As I was reading the Bible, I noticed that the characters of Scripture sometimes felt this way too. Jesus seems to have periodically withdrawn His sovereign touch. He of course didn't leave, but He allowed the hearts of men to "feel" distant. But why? Was it because of sin? Not always.
It seems that when this happened in Scripture, it was right before a tremendous blessing occurred. It's almost as if this "experiential absence" of the Lord's presence was used as a season of testing, to invoke a greater response. Observe:
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight... And...they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up..." (Acts 1:6-10).
Try to put yourself in the disciple's shoes.. they had been with Jesus for 3 and a half years, watched Him be brutally crucified, and now He's resurrected - dwelling with them again! What a joyous occasion this must have been! They thought this was to be the time for Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). Hopes were high, no doubt. Yet, how sad for the disciples that Jesus was soon to leave again, dashing their natural hopes to pieces! In fact, they were so distraught, that God had to send two angels to reassure them of Jesus' imminent return (Acts 1:11). But can we recognize that His momentary absence was simply to prepare the way for a tremendous blessing - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Was this "absence" a trial of their faith? Maybe. Would the disciples be obedient even when the Son of God was not radiating all around them? Will we likewise be obedient, and continue to seek Jesus in the times when we don't "feel" spiritually strong? Or will our circumstances get the best of us? "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8).
Just a few days later, the disciples were overwhelmed at the blessing God poured out: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).
Don't despise those times of supposed weakness and trial. Do you feel that Jesus has left you? Don't allow your heart to be troubled.. the trial of your faith is more precious than gold (1 Pet 1:7)!
The Shulamite woman seems to have experienced this same season of "experiential absence". For her, this was a season of personal testing. Jesus was asking her to seek Him more fervently. Observe:
"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go..." (Song 3:1-4).
Before her trial, the Shulamite woman was pretty casual about her walk with God. She even refused His upward call (Song 2:10, 17). But now, because of His divinely orchestrated absence, she can't help but seek Him further; she goes places to find Him that she normally would not. His absence was to facilitate an extraordinary blessing! A few verses later she gets a dramatic glimpse of God's glory: "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?" (Song 3:6).
Have you ever felt spiritually distant? Don't fret. Jesus just may be checking your heart.. He just may be preparing and tilling the soil of your soul for an astounding blessing!
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