September 7, 2018
When You Don’t Feel Jesus’ Presence
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you,” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT).
Friend to Friend
Have you ever felt like Jesus was on vacation or lost your address? Have you ever cried out, “God, where are you?”
A crisis of belief occurs for most of us during difficult situations. We know that God is all-powerful and could rescue, heal, or save us at any time. So we tend to feel abandoned or duped when He doesn’t.
And you can bet your bottom dollar, Satan is going to be waiting in the wings to whisper doubts in your ear. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for just the right moment to discourage the wounded believer (1 Peter 5:8). He looks for the opportune time to trip you up and bring you down (Luke 4:13).
But even if you don’t feel Jesus’ presence in your life, He is still there.
The same day that Peter and John discovered the empty tomb, two of the disciples were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As the sacred city lay behind them, so did their hopes and dreams. While discussing the tragic events of the past weekend, another man appeared and began to walk alongside them.
“What are you talking about?” the man asked.
“Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know about what happened over the past few days?”
“What things?” the man asked.
Then the two disciples gave the traveler a blow-by-blow account of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, burial, and disappearance from the tomb. Their eyes were blinded by despair and they didn’t realize that their hope was walking right alongside them. All they saw was the tragedy, but they missed seeing Jesus walking on the dusty road with them.
Perhaps you’ve traveled down your own dusty road to Emmaus with circumstances leaving you confused, troubled, and depressed. Perhaps you have been discouraged and wondered: Where in the world is Jesus anyway?
If so, remember this my friend, just because we cannot see Jesus or sense His presence, that does not mean He is absent. Just because we can’t see Him working does not mean that He isn’t.
He is walking the path with you (Matthew 28:20).
He is praying for you (Hebrews 7:25).
He is working on your behalf (John 5:17).
Jesus assures us with these words: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT).
He gave His word. He gave His life.
Let’s Pray
Jesus, thank You for always being with me, for praying for me, and for working on my behalf. Help me to not lose heart when times get tough and the road gets rough. Thank You for never leaving me…no matter what.
In Your Name I pray,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
When is one time you truly felt God’s presence?
Read and record the three verses about Jesus’ presence with you in today’s devotion. Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 7:25, John 5:17
There is so much power in your story! If you would like to learn more about how to turn your pain into purpose, your messes into your message, and your hurt into hope, check out my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of Your Past. True freedom comes when you use what you have gone through to minister to someone else. Also, if you have a wound that is yet to heal and become a scar, this resource will help you in that area as well.
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Originally published Friday, 07 September 2018.
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