Read: Job 23

Have you ever felt like God was absent? Have you prayed to God, read His word, sought His face, and still failed to figure out where He was or why He wasn’t speaking to you? If you have, you’re not alone. Job experienced the same thing during his lifetime. In Job 23, Job is sad, frustrated and angry with God.

“If only I knew where to find him,” Job tells his friends. “If only I could go to his dwelling ... I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say” (Job 23:3-5). Job feels like God has hidden Himself and is nowhere to be found. In reality, God never left his side.

At the end of Job, we learn God was with Job through every trial he experienced. He heard every word Job spoke to and about Him, and after God revealed Himself to Job, Job responded by saying “my ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

None of us can fully understand why God’s presence seems to fluctuate, but one thing is for sure: God is never absent. He loves us, He cares for us, and He wants a deep and intimate relationship with us. Sometimes God is quiet, but often in those times He is teaching us more about who He is. So if you ever feel like Job did, remember that God is always faithful. He will never leave you.

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).