Sunday Sermonettes | The Lord Is Near, Even When You Can’t Feel It

Sunday Sermonettes #097

If I tell you the Lord is near when you are in trouble you won’t believe it. That is quite natural. 

The people of God did not believe Moses either when he went and told them God had seen their suffering and was concerned for them. 

The Bible also tells us that they did not believe because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

Sometimes when we expect relief from suffering, we find that it increases in fury. That makes it difficult for us to believe that the Lord is near.

Then how do I know that the Lord is near? Even on a cloudy day, the sun is shining. And we don’t see it. We see only the gloom.

Our feelings of desperation does not change the fact that the Lord is near.  He is Immanuel, God with us.

The presence of trouble in our lives is not a sign that God is absent. Even when your boat is in the storm he is there in it with you. 

But the feelings of despair, doubt, discouragement, depression and hopelessness are real.  And truly genuinely human. And you are not alone to feel like that. 

Do not doubt the reality that you are God’s child when you pass through the dark night .It reminds me of the risen Jesus drawing near to the discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus, revealing his presence to them through the Scripturess.

If you ask me, will not God deliver me? I have no answer except the Lord is near. 

And often I too struggle to believe it. But he has promised that if he call on him in our trouble he will hear and deliver us. In his time, in his wisdom, as he sees best for us.

Sometimes, it is the trouble that helps us anchor our souls to the rock that the Lord is near.  He is. 

Therefore thank and praise him even when you don’t feel like doing so. A genuine attempt at praising God when your whole mind soul spirit and body rebels at that very thought can help realize the presence of God near. 

No wonder the Bible calls it the sacrifice of praise. You won’t feel like praising God. But do it anyway. Say Hallelujah. Praise the Lord.

Featured image: Mabel Amber from Pixabay

Bible references:

• Exodus 6:9 (The Israelites not listening to Moses due to discouragement and harsh labor)
• Isaiah 7:14 / Matthew 1:23 (The name Immanuel, meaning “God with us”)
• Mark 4:35–41 (Jesus in the boat with the disciples during the storm)
• Luke 24:13–35 (The risen Jesus walking with the discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus)
• Psalm 50:15 (Calling on God in times of trouble and His promise to deliver)
• Psalm 34:17–18 (The Lord being close to the brokenhearted and saving the crushed in spirit)
• Hebrews 13:15 (Offering up a “sacrifice of praise”)