Feeling the absence of God

Judges 18:6  Joshua 1:5

I went on a business trip recently. And for the first time in a year, I was away from my wife.

So, before that I would travel a lot for work and it was for sometimes for long stretches at a time so we became accustomed to it. Talked on the phone when we could, and we were content. We got very used to being apart and it was a normal thing. The kids even got accustomed to it. We were satisfied with the short time together and we made the best of it when I was home. Going out to eat, movies, and fun stuff with the kids. All crammed in a weekend. Then I had a job change and my presence at home was all the time. We saw each other in the morning, afternoon and night and it is great. Then a quick overnight business trip came up and I didn’t want to go, I didn’t want to be away from her. It was a feeling I haven’t had in a long time. Basically about 15 years when I started traveling. And I know she felt the same.

As I was driving away, I thought about the feeling I had and the absence I was feeling (I wasn’t gone maybe 2 hours into my trip) and that is when the feeling that the God feels the same way when we are with Him day and night and then we drift apart, or more precise we drift from him. God longs to be with us and we sometimes take trips. We lose focus on Him because of Jobs, money, spouses, children, troubles of the world. Our trips may be short and then we come back, and we focus on him then it is back on the trip. The trips of life become frequent. We get used to being away from God, not relying on him fulling. And during this time they always feels there is an absence or we are missing something.

I have been on the trips away from God and yes, I believe and yes Jesus is my Lord. But my relationship was distant. I worked hard and focused on the next worldly goal. I strived to be the best in my career. But there was always an absence. Troubles at work and I would get through but sometimes not peacefully. Sometimes I felt I was struggling on my own. I was on a trip of self-reliance, and I wasn’t focused on my relationship with God. I would try to cram the relationship with God into a church service or quick family prayer, I got used to the absence.

I then one day extremely stressed because of circumstances, and I felt an absence from God. And I cried out to the Lord and asked where are you and immediately there was a peace that came over me. And I felt Him say to me I was always here with you on your trips, but you didn’t want me to disturb you. From that point on I have strived to keep Jesus as my focus in whatever I do.

I earn for His presence. The peace I have is just astounding. I know with the presence of God comes peace, joy and happiness. Do we let our minds wander and sometime worry. Of course, but when we have the presence of God we can lean on him and the worries go away.

I have witnessed this. The job changed I referenced was a surprise out of the blue layoff. My wife and I went from a good living to nothing in a minute. I called my wife, and I said God is in control and I truly meant it because I felt His presence. Exactly 40 days of leaning on God and looking for work until I got a job. Did I get stressed, did I have worry creep in, was I tempted to settle for things I did when I started in the industry, yes, I did. But the presence of God was so strong I was able to hold fast to his promises.

After 40 days my job was replaced, and we were even blessed more.

In Judges 18:6 it says “And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The presence of the Lord be with you on your way.” It demonstrates that where there is the presence of the Lord so is peace. No matter what is going on in your life If you allow is presence to be with you, you will have peace. And God is faithful.

Joshua 1:5 in a nutshell says God will never leave you nor forsake you. And that is so true. So, my question is if you feel the absence of the presence of God is it God or is it you. God said he will never leave you. So, it must be us. We push God away. We tell him we can do it. We say don’t help me.

And if you realize it just ask him to show his presence. He will.