When God seems far away: Worship

How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire? Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all humanity! Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave? Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David? Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations, the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.
Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
(Psalm 89:46-52 NIV)

This psalmist speaks during a time of hardship and persecution. He is mocked. He feels abandoned. He remembers before this the days when your faithfulness was clear and your blessings were his delight.

What do we do when God seems far away?
We cry out for him.
We look around to see him where we don't expect.
We look upon our condition.
We often become angry with God.
We blame God.
Yet we also wonder if God is far off
And maybe won't return.
We wonder if he is real at all.

Yet God is always there.
In blessings and hardship.
For Jesus promised us both abundant life and persecution.

As the psalmist does here perhaps the proper response is worship.
To praise God.
To recognize God is bigger than us.
Bigger and better than our circumstances.
He has been faithful before, so remember that.
And trust that he will be faithful against
Beyond our own understanding.
For God is good and worthy of praise even when we lose a family member, even when our ministry is struggling. Even when a close friend turns from God. For God is not limited or hurt by the world or by our choices. He is sovereign, just and merciful.

Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen