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Introduction:
God is real no matter how you feel.
Remember that. And
here’s why: It’s
easy to worship God when … ▪
things
are great ▪
you
are surrounded by others of like mind ▪
you
walk on a quiet beach or sit on top of a mountain
Those times, however, may be the exception rather than the
rule. My life isn’t
always great; my voice (more times than not) is alone rather than
joined in chorus; and my mountaintop experiences are rare compared
to nights in the valley. Hence
the question, How
do you worship God when you don’t “feel” like it? How
do you keep a relationship when He seems far away?
We’re talking about the deepest level of worship and
relationship. –
To be able to praise Him in spite of pain … - To thank Him in
spite of trials … - To trust Him when you don’t understand …
- To love Him when He seems a million miles away … That kind of faith isn’t easy. Discussion: I.
Friendship
is Tested by Separation A.
What’s true in human relationships is also true in
our spiritual relationship. The
point: You have to
work at your relationship with God and — you won’t always feel
close to Him. And that’s when worship and faith gets difficult. B.
There will be times when you will feel that God has
ignored, abandoned, and forgotten you.
And you’re not the only one!
Ps.10:1; 22:1-2; 43:2A; 89:46. 1.
Truth:
God had not turned His back on them anymore than He will turn His
back on you (Deut.31:8; Heb.13:5).
But that doesn’t mean you will never have feelings
of separation. 2.
Have you ever prayed and felt nothing?
Or gone through low tides when you felt God was
distant? At those
times we’re tempted to ask, What’s wrong with me?
The answer: Perhaps
nothing. It may be a natural and normal part of developing your faith
and relationship with Him. 3.
Key
truth:
Beware of basing your faith upon feelings because … your
feelings will betray you! II.
When
God Seems Distant A.
Job … There were times Job felt
disconnected from God (23:8-9).
His feelings of abandonment had nothing to do with sin, but
were a test of his faith. And
your faith may be equally tested.
Will you continue to trust and obey when you don’t feel
His presence? B.
A
common mistake — seeking an emotional experience rather than
seeking Him!
If the feeling happens we conclude that God is with
me. If it doesn’t,
we conclude that God doesn’t care about me. Maybe
God removes our feelings 1.
There were times when Job didn’t feel close to
God. Same with David. Yet
even though their feelings were absent, their faith
remained! 2.
Feelings and facts are two different things.
Sometimes there is beautiful harmony, but sometimes (due to
our emotional state) the feelings are AWOL.
And that’s when you have to focus on the facts. 3.
The fact is: God
is always near. His
presence in your life is too profound to be measured by your
emotional ups and downs. I
believe God wants you to sense His working in your life (Phil.2:13),
but more—I believe He wants you to trust Him even when
you can’t feel Him. C.
There
will be life-situations that will stretch your faith to the max
— and if you go by feelings …God seems to have
abandoned you. Hence,
the question: How do
you praise Him when your life falls apart and Heaven is silent?
How do you “fix your eyes on Jesus” when they are
filled with tears?” You
cry “Why?” and … there is only silence.
You do what Job did. And
David. You have to
walk by the facts when the feelings aren’t there. III.
4
Things You MUST Do: A.
Tell
God how you
_____. Job did (and
held nothing back), 7:11.
God is such a trusted friend that you can tell Him
anything. He can
handle your anger, doubt, fear, grief, confusion, and questions.
Like the trusted friend with whom you can share your heart,
so it is with God. 1.
As parents seek open dialogue with their children, so our
Father wants the same from us. 2.
Until we do, He will continue to feel distant. B.
Focus
on His unchanging
_________. Regardless
of your circumstances, confess the facts you know to be true. You know God is good, that He loves you, and that He knows
what you’re going through.
In other words, never doubt in the dark what God has
revealed in the light! Job19:25
— C.
Trust
God to keep His
____________. On
those days when you come up empty, discipline yourself to rely on
His promises — not your emotions!
In other words, don’t be troubled by trouble (Job
23:11-12; Rom.8:28). God is for you even when you don’t feel like He is. D.
Remember
what He has done for you ____________. If God never
did another thing for you, He still deserves your best because …
2 Cor.5:21; Isa.53:6; John 3:16 Conclusion:
Your feelings will betray you!
There are times when God seems distant because He is
distant! It’s not that He has walked away, but you have!
Sin removes us from a relationship with Him, Isa.59:1-2.
Thus, you may feel disconnected because you are
disconnected. But
that isn’t God’s fault — it’s yours! “For I know that my redeemer lives”
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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