Divine absence

Do you sometimes feel that God has gone AWOL?
Is there a sense that God is absent from your life?
This feeling is actually common amongst us Christians, but we are not comfortable telling others how we feel and so we carry this burden alone.

In his book, 'Closer than a brother', David Winter reflects on one of Brother Lawrence's letters in which he shares on this topic. This is what he writes:

"It is true that our experience of God's presence varies with intensity. Sometimes, usually when we are busy in our daily work, there are occasions when we become aware of the divine absence - not that God has gone away, but that we have forgotten he is there..."

So, it is clear that the 'divine absence' is not really what is going on, because God is with us always. However, we have shifted our attention away from the things of God for a time and so we have become consumed with our own struggles. Brother Lawrence then suggests a prayer that we can pray, to help us re-establish our 'connection' with God.

"O my God,
Here I am.
All that I am is yours.
Make of me whatever you want."

1 Thessalonians 3:9 - "How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence."

Remember that God is with you today, even if you feel that He is absent.

A.W.Tozer - “We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts”

Living in Grace
D3LM3