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Sometimes, it feels like God has betrayed us.
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46, NASB)
Sometimes, it’s not so stark as all that; sometimes, it’s more like God just seems absent. Maybe he’s busy with someone else. Maybe he doesn’t have time for me.
“My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, ‘When will you comfort me?’” (Psalm 119:82, NIV)
You’ve probably read Jesus’ Parable of the Persistent Widow: “And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1, RSV), or Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17, ESV).
And yet, Paul acknowledges that his unceasing prayers didn’t always bring the relief he desired: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But…” (II Corinthians 12:8, ESV)
Even a servant of God so zealous and courageous as the prophet Elijah had moments of utter despair, when all his past faith and fervor seemed pointless.
“I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life.” (I Kings 19:10, ESV)
Sometimes we wonder: “How long will this go on? Where is my relief? Where is the hope that God has promised? In fact, where is God?” For all we can tell, he is silent, invisible. “What does it mean? Is he not there? Does he not care? Is he…