How can we trust God's presence despite feeling abandoned, like Gideon in Judges 6:13? Facing Gideon’s Question “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? … But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.” (Judges 6:13) • Gideon voices the tension we feel when circumstances scream abandonment. • Notice that God does not rebuke Gideon for asking; He engages, proving questions can coexist with faith. Recognizing Our Misreading of Absence • God’s presence is not negated by hardship. Israel’s oppression resulted from covenant discipline (Judges 6:1), not divine desertion. • Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves,” showing love can arrive clothed in discomfort. • Feeling abandoned often reveals misinterpretation, not God’s withdrawal. Tracing God’s Unbroken Track Record • Exodus 3:7-8—God saw Israel’s affliction and came down to deliver. • Joshua 1:5—“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” • Psalm 94:14—“For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His inheritance.” • Judges 6 continues: in verse 14 God says, “Go in the strength you have”—the very presence Gideon doubted now empowers him. God’s actions consistently confirm His words. Remembering Promised Presence in Christ • Matthew 28:20—“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” • Romans 8:38-39—Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • In Christ, God’s abiding presence is sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Our assurance rests on Christ’s finished work, not fluctuating emotions. Practical Steps to Hold Fast 1. Rehearse Scripture aloud. Faith is strengthened by hearing truth (Romans 10:17). 2. Recall personal deliverances—keep a journal of answered prayers and past mercies. 3. Stay in fellowship; God often manifests His presence through His people (Hebrews 10:24-25). 4. Serve in obedience even while questioning—like Gideon threshing wheat, active faith becomes the arena for fresh encounters. 5. Pray Psalm 42:5 over your soul: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? … Put your hope in God.” Redirect feelings toward grounded hope. Closing Encouragement Gideon began convinced of abandonment, yet ended leading Israel to victory because God never left. Our circumstances may echo verse 13, but God’s response in verse 14 still stands: He sends, empowers, and stays. Trust His proven presence—He is nearer than your fears suggest. |
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