"Do not forsake me, O LORD;
O my God, be not far from me."
Psalm 38:21
The man recently lost his job. He had been employed by the same company for more than thirty years. He really expected to work there until retirement. It came as a shock to him when he was suddenly dismissed. He was a good worker, but the slow down in the national economy forced the company to cut employment for many. He later said to his wife, "You know, I feel like God is far away." She said, "I know it feels that way, but God is with us always, and He will see us through this problem." It's during times of trouble that we may question our relationship with God.
The psalmist David cries out to God in his trouble. He too felt that God seemed far away. He addressed God as LORD in his prayer. That's the covenant name for God. Under the covenant oath, God has promised never to leave nor to forsake His people. That promise is made repeatedly in the Old Testament and affirmed in the New Testament (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). Situations in our lives often change quickly, but God's promise changes not. Our feelings fluctuate easily, but God's oath remains the same for every believer.
Have you recently gone through a time where you felt that God was far away? Maybe you are in such a situation now. We must make a choice. Will we believe our changing feelings, or shall we cling to God's unchanging word. Anytime we suffer a loss in life we go through emotions of grief. They are real. We should not deny them.
Neither should we confuse our feelings with God's certain promises. Emotion says, "God must be far away, because I don't feel His presence." Faith says, "God is with me always, because He has promised." God's promise says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
God, I believe Your promise never to forsake me.
