My eyes have a hard time adjusting to the dark. Often, when I get out bed in the night and fumble for the door handle to our bedroom, I can hear my husband (who sees well in the dark) laughing. What a sight I must be as my outstretched hands flail about. First, I search for the wall, then the panels of the door, and finally I am able to grasp the doorknob. Although I’m a bit frustrated at not being able to see, I’m not deterred by the darkness. I know the door is there. It hasn’t moved.
Objects continue to exist even when not in view. This concept was coined by Swiss psychologist John Piaget as “Object Permanence. This is what makes playing peek-a-boo with babies so much fun—throwing a blanket over the baby’s toys and watching their surprise when you lift it and show them it is still there. As they develop, they learn that even though they can’t see the toys, they haven’t moved. They just have to lift the blanket.
As adults, we don’t usually struggle with object permanence. On cloudy days when we can’t see the sun, we still know it is there. If we put milk in the refrigerator and close the door, we know it is there even when all we see is the door to the refrigerator.
But what about the object permanence of our faith? What about those times when pain, heartache, loss, or disappointment cloud our vision? What about those dry spells when you don’t “feel” close to the Lord? Your spiritual life is lackluster and your prayer life feels pointless? Does that mean that he isn’t there? Or he is there and doesn’t care?
Pastor Mark recently compared our spiritual life to the orbit of the moon. Sometimes the moon is bathed in brilliant light, and at other times it is in deepest darkness. Does that mean that the moon comes and goes? Whether light or dark, the moon is still there. Neither our vision nor our feelings determine the presence of God. His presence is permanent—whether we feel close to him or whether his presence is obscured. Even if we don’t want to be in his presence, he is still there.
Psalm 139:7-12 says:
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for the darkness is as light with you.”
So, what do we do when spiritually, we are not experiencing the tangible presence of God? Perhaps we are either numb with stress, or we are complacent because of the lack of it. Perhaps we are truly seeking him, yet we are not experiencing his response.
Isaiah 50:10 helps light the way:
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
Trust and rely on God, even when the blanket of life obscures your vision.
Trust and rely on God by leaning on his promise to be with you always.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says:
He will never leave you or forsake you.
Trust and rely on God by remembering what he has done for you in the past. Trust that he sees you, even when it is hard for you to see him. He is there.
