What To Do, When God, Seems Far

It’s interesting:  in Psalm 118, the psalmist acknowledges that God not only allows seasons of difficulty – God allows seasons of great travail -- even agony.   

Why in Psalm 118:18 the psalmist just says it:  “…the Lord has chastened me severely….”   (Psalm 118:18).  Eugene Peterson is even more vivid in The Message – “…God tested me -- he pushed me hard…”  (Psalm 118:18, The Message).   

But let’s indeed be honest:  When God does test us, when God does push us hard -- God seems far.   

Yet another Psalm – Psalm 69 – expresses this sentiment.  “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.  I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.  I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.  I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.  My eyes fail, looking for my God…”  (Psalm 69:1-3) 

And so what do you do, when your throat is parched – when your eyes fail, looking for God -- when God seems far?  

Well one response is to immediately give 'the correct response,' no questions asked.  But God prefers an honest response -- accurate and real!  Once a dad was trying to teach his daughter Jenny how to say grace at mealtime. Well after weeks of modeling and coaching, the Dad decided it was time for Jenny to say grace all by herself.  And so Jenny took off – thanking God for her mommy and daddy, her brother and sister and for the rolls and the salad, ending with a big, loud -- and "…thank you, God, for the spaghetti!" Thank God for the spaghetti!! And with that Jenny lifted her head.  Well the Dad was not pleased; why Jenny hadn’t ended the prayer properly, saying:  “…thank you God for the spaghetti -- …in Jesus Name.  Amen.   And so the Dad prompted Jenny – “Now Jenny, thank God for the spaghetti – in – in – in.   And with that Jenny got the biggest smile on her face.  “Thank you God for the spaghetti -- in -- hot gooey tomato sauce!!!.  Amen!!!!”  

Sometimes we need to just say we’re in hot, gooey tomato sauce.  Oh eventually we need to say  ‘in Jesus name’ – but first -- we need to be brutally honest -- real -- and accurate.

A few years back Rick Warren's son Matthew committed suicide.  Well, shortly after Matthew's death, Time magazine reached out and asked Rick to write a column for, of all issues, their Thanksgiving issue.  In doing, Rick referenced -- surprisingly -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you, in Christ Jesus..."   

Continuing, Rick put the verse in context:  “When your heart’s been ripped apart [how can you be thankful]" -- Rick began.  "...You feel numb, not grateful.  And yet the Bible tells us to “Give thanks IN ALL circumstances…”.
       

“The key word [Rick went on to say] is ‘In'."  God doesn’t expect me to be thankful FOR all circumstances – but IN all circumstances.  There’s a huge difference.  The first attitude is masochism.  The second shows maturity.  We’re not supposed to be thankful FOR evil or sin or the innocent suffering caused by those things.  But even IN heartache and grief and disappointment there are still things that I can be thankful for…” http://time100.time.com/2013/11/25/time-for-thanks/slide/rick-warren/.

And so I want to challenge us toward maturity – not masochism.   Never deny that God is good – able to bring good out of any gut-wrenching reality.   But also don’t deny that gut-wrenching reality is indeed reality – inviting us to be honest with God, with our heartache.

Be honest with God, regarding your heartache.    And then, be thankful to God...that God invites you, to be that honest -- real -- and accurate.  

That what you do 'for starter's -- when 'life heads south' -- when you feel -- far...from...God.