God Never Takes A Hike On Hurting People

​I am targeting this week’s word to two specific scenarios.
           

• First, to hurting people who feel that God is a million miles away and does not care about them. 

 

• Secondly, to people reading this who know a hurting person who feels God has taken a hike and they need to know that He hasn’t.

 
Thirty-four years ago, I was a patient in a psychiatric hospital being treated for severe reactive depression. During the eerily dark hours of the eternally long nights on the psych ward, the spirit of despair haunted me with suicidal thoughts. By myself, I felt horribly lonely. Abandoned.
           
One evening in particular I was emotionally restless and extremely upset. Wrestling unsuccessfully with what strength I had to overcome an overwhelming sense of despair and hopelessness; I felt that God was nowhere to be found.
 

• When I needed Him most, I thought God had taken a hike. Fearing that God was not with me plunged me into a spiritual/emotional panic.

 
As a believer in Christ and minister of the Gospel, the thought of God being nowhere present was very frightening. Anxious and terrified by the prospect that God might be hiding out from me in some distant galaxy far, far away, I reached for the nearby nightstand, turned on the light and grabbed my Bible. Then the Holy Spirit led me to Psalms 34:17-18 and Psalms 107:20.
 
“The righteous cry and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
 
“He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their difficulties.”
 

• My fear was that God was not near.

 
The Psalmist assured me that God is near, not far from the broken hearted. Feelings ran rampant over my faith. So, God sent His Word to heal me from my terrifying thoughts that He had taken a hike.
 
David knew from personal experience that God is near and hears us when we are hurting. He also delivers and saves those whose spirits are crushed. My feelings on that depressing night deceived me, lied to me, clouding the truth in darkness. But the light of the Word drove darkness away.
 
I was so relieved to be reminded that God is near, He hears our cries. He delivers and saves us from trouble. Sounds like God is Johnny-on-the spot for you and me!
           
But it amazes me how we humans decide during times of difficulty that God pulls away from us?
 
Why do we do that? Why would God take a hike on us? You and I error in our thinking because pain blocks our faith and blinds us to the fact that God is not a zillion miles away. The God who sent His only Son out of heaven to earth to save humanity never takes a hike on the people He loves.
 
On the contrary, when we hurt, He gets up close and personal.
 

• Think about it. How could God deliver and save if He is nowhere to be found? A God who has taken a hike cannot heal those who are hurting.

 
When my children are hurting and need dear old Dad, I do not run and hide. I draw near to them and do what good father’s do…reassure them of my love and do everything within my power to help heal their hurt. 
 
When It Feels Like God Has Taken A Hike…
 

• He has not. His Word says so. God does not desert those He loves.
• God is nearer than ever when His children are hurting. The more hurt, the closer the Healer is.
• Satan is selling you a lie. Do not buy it. The devil wants you to feel abandoned and alone.  
• Emotional pain and heartache are talking. Instead of rehearsing and nursing your feelings, curse your hurt. Speak words of faith and hope. Tell your feelings to take a hike!
• Open your heart to the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.    

             

• I am so thankful and glad that when I felt God was not near, that in reality, He was with me. Even in a dark, lonely hospital room in Louisiana. This revelation delivered me from despair and saved my life.

 
If you are hurting and feeling that God has taken a hike on you, He hasn’t. He can’t. He won’t.  Ever. The Lord is with you, for you, and working on your behalf. We have His Word on it. So, believe it. Receive His healing and restoring love. Do it right now
 
If you are ministering to someone who feels God is far away, tell them that is untrue. Share the truth with them that God is right by their side. Support them by reassuring them that God is near and hears their cries for help. Encourage them to open their heart to the Lord Jesus who will meet their every need.  
           
Take heart my friends! When our hearts are broken, the Lord is near to the broken hearted. When we feel crushed in spirit, God crashes in close to bind up our hearts and heal our wounds. The nearness of our Heavenly Father in a time of crisis is proof of His unconditional, everlasting love for you and me!  
 

• God’s Word or your feelings…you decide if God is near or not.

 
“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”                                   Hebrews 13:5
 
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”                                    Matthew 20:28
 
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”                                         James 4:8
 
A Word For Your Week: When you feel like God has taken a hike, He hasn’t.