How should believers respond when feeling God is "a lion in hiding"? Opening Verse “He is like a bear lying in wait, a lion in hiding.” — Lamentations 3:10 When God Feels Like a Hidden Lion Jeremiah’s lament paints a sober picture: God seems to stalk His own people, fierce and remote. Believers still meet seasons when the Almighty feels untouchable, unpredictable, even frightening. Scripture does not hush these moments; it invites us to walk through them faithfully. Why the Imagery Matters • A lion embodies raw power; when that power seems turned against us, fear rises. • The “hiding” highlights God’s apparent silence or distance. • Lamentations reminds us this experience is not the end of the story (Lamentations 3:21-26). Guided Response: What to Do 1. Acknowledge the Reality • Pour out honest words: “How long, O LORD? Will You hide Your face forever?” (Psalm 13:1-2). • Lament is an act of faith, not faithlessness. 2. Remember God’s Unchanging Character • “For the LORD will not cast off forever” (Lamentations 3:31). • “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 3. Bring to Mind His Covenant Love • “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22). • “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). 4. Wait with Hopeful Expectation • “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD” (Lamentations 3:26). • Faith walks, not by sight, but “by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7). 5. Keep Obeying in the Dark • Job’s resolve: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15). • Obedience rooted in trust outlasts shifting feelings. 6. Seek Fellowship • Isolation magnifies despair; the body of Christ “bear[s] one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). • Corporate worship realigns perspective (Psalm 73:16-17). 7. Fix Eyes on the True Lion • The “Lion of the tribe of Judah” has triumphed (Revelation 5:5). • His victory guarantees that present hiddenness is temporary. Scriptural Anchors for Each Response • Honest Lament: Psalm 22:1; Lamentations 3:17-18 • Character of God: Exodus 34:6-7; James 1:17 • Covenant Love: Isaiah 54:10; Romans 8:38-39 • Hopeful Waiting: Isaiah 40:31; Romans 5:3-5 • Ongoing Obedience: John 14:15; James 1:22 • Fellowship: Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Corinthians 12:26 • Christ’s Triumph: Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15 Living It Out This Week • Read Lamentations 3 aloud, pausing at verses 21-26 to vocalize hope. • Memorize Hebrews 13:5-6 to combat the lie of abandonment. • Schedule time with another believer to share burdens and truths together. • Serve someone quietly; obedience in love counters inward spirals. • Sing a hymn about Christ’s reign (e.g., “A Mighty Fortress”) to celebrate the Lion who saves. The roar that once felt against us is, in Christ, forever for us. |
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