It’s entirely possible to say I believe in God and I believe Jesus is His son who died for my sins and never really feel the presence of God in your life. We can affirm the theory of Christianity without experiencing the presence of God in such a way that it makes a difference in the way we live.
The truth is, for too many of us, God is not a felt reality.
Why is this so? Ronald Rolheiser gives two possibilities.
1. God has hidden himself in order to purify or mature our faith. The spiritual masters talk about how God withdraws his felt presence in order to get our attention or to teach us a lesson. St. John of the Cross calls this the “Dark Night of the Soul.”
2. We are blind to God’s presence. God is always present, but we are not always present to God.
So which one do you think it is most of the time?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Both, probably.
also, while we hope to feel God’s presence at least part of the time, he might be there whether we feel Him or not.
While I do believe that the first option happens (I remember something in Hezekiah’s lifetime), I bet the second is more common.
Wade,
Good question. In my opinion 2 weighs more heavily on my mind than #1. I see the presence of God through the firmament (Psalm 19:1) and creation (Romans 1:20). I think #2 comes down to our common sense. Many times, if not all the time, our selfish material interests get in the way of the presence of God.
Still giving it some thought…
I’m going to defer to C.S. Lewis. http://cindybryan.blogspot.com/2006/09/to-know-him-better-here.html
You have to have felt his presence to know his absence. I would say #2 is it for me. I’ve moved away and started relying on myself. In my understanding, the Holy Spirit is always with you. Therefore, God can’t be far. Lynn
I would have say #2.
my first reaction is to choose #2. on further reflection i’m wondering if that isn’t because i don’t want to see God in that way – i don’t want to think of him taking his presence from me because it seems harsh and kind of like i’m in trouble or being disciplined. also, #1 is very mysterious and that challenges and stretches me. then there is something in me that wants to be in control of my experience with God. by taking responsibility all the time for not feeling the presence of God i can take away his role. from there reducing the relationship to a formula is not a far stretch for me – if i just pay attention or if i just do this or that i will feel the presence of God again.
“Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel” (Isaiah 45:15).
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
I’m in favor of a both/and answer, but no one seems to be taking up the cause of option #1. At the beginning of our faith journey, God comes looking for us. And it’s a good thing he does.
But at some point in time, he hides himself and wants to know if we’ll miss him enough to come looking for him.
Alex, I will go with #2 for $10,000
I think it’s probably both. There are times I’ve closed my eyes to God’s presence. But there have also been times that regardless of how hard I’ve searched, waited, or called out, I just couldn’t find God.
I am thinking mostly the second. God makes himself very accessible. It just seems our eyes don’t get very attuned to see him because the world blinds us with what we can see.