O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help, and you have healed me.
O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restore me to life from among those who go down to the pit.--Psalm 30:2-3
read
Job 30:15-20
In this short passage, Job seems to have lost all hope. His dignity is gone. And now, he feels his very life draining out of him. And to make matters worse, he feels nothing from God but a "blank stare."
It's difficult for me to identify with this, because, although I have been in situations where I have felt that my dignity was pretty much shredded, I have never felt totally forsaken by my Father. I have, however, experienced his silence, and it is a terrifying thing.
think
I'm reading the passage again, letting it sink in. Not trying to analyze or determine its validity. Simply being open to the experience.
pray
What goes on inside you when you hear Job talk about God's silence?
I feel stark terror. The silence of God is a very sobering thing. It is terrible to not hear from God. To think that you have been left alone by God is unbearable. There is no stronger feeling of "aloneness."
Father, I thank you that I don't ever have to feel this way. I am assured that your presence is with me all the time, even if I can't "feel" it. I know you are there. I don't have to "hear" your voice, but it's a nice feeling to experience your presence. Well, better than "nice." It's intensely awesome to experience your presence in my life.
live
Right now, practice resting in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence--whether you're doing things right or doing nothing at all, whether you feel he's near or you feel nothing. If this is especially tough for you to do pray the prayer, "Lord, I believe a little, help me believe more."
I've got to leave for a staff meeting at church, so I will have to practice "resting" in the car on the way. Heh. But that is entirely possible, just by switching off the noise of the radio and focusing on the presence of God while driving. And the road, too, of course.
Grace and peace, y'all!