The Remotest Part of the Sea

    Have you ever found yourself in a place where God seems quiet?  Absent?  Withdrawn?  Where you feel abandoned, doubtful, or perhaps defeated and maybe even angry with God?  The Christian community might tell you that you have checked the Lord at the door and that you are way off track.  But maybe there is another conclusion. 

    Recently I listened to a Tim Keller sermon centered around Psalm 88 called "Heman's Cry of Darkness".  The perspective was so uplifting and inspirational to me.   The message freed me from confusion and guilt and encouraged me in my faith. 

    When darkness surrounds us, it is easy to feel that God is absent and has abandoned us.  How do we reject this notion and demonstrate hope against having lost hope? 

    When we get little to nothing out of prayer, little to nothing out of reading the Bible, little to nothing out of worship, little to nothing out of serving or going to church...and we do these things anyway with no known benefit to ourselves, despite the darkness....This, This is the catalyst to defeating the Enemy of our souls.  When we stay with God for nothing, for no apparent personal gain, then we learn how to serve Him unconditionally. 

    It is amidst the agonizing pressure from darkness within and darkness without that we may be tempted to give way and walk away from God.  But if we hold the course, cry out to Him, complain to Him, lay our cards on the table, in the end when the darkness abates (and it will), our very character will be changed, refined, and sharpened to a new brilliance.   

    Sojourner, are you sticking with God anyway despite the darkness?  Take heart.  You are not alone.  And soon--very soon--the shadowy darkness will bow to God's amazing Truth and Power. 

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Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
Psalm 139:7-12