God's Presence?

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"
Matthew 28: 20

There are times in my life where I feel that God is not there anymore. The prayers that I lift up don't seem to be answered or listened to. This feeling is best expressed in Psalm 22: "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?....O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent."

However, this verse states that God will never leave His people, His children. Then where does this feeling of abandonment come from? I believe that this requires a little self-reflection. Are you letting God rule in your life? Do other things distract you every day? If your prayers aren't answered, is it because of the things you ask for? Do you pray only for only yourself and material possessions? If you feel that God has abandoned you, ask yourself these questions and your answers might not be the ones you had hoped it would be.

After a little self-reflection I usually realize that there are so many things that I do wrong in my life. I know that only God can undo what I've become. When I reconcile myself to God, He accepts you back, and this happiness felt will be better than anything the world has to offer. Even if you are suffering and under persecution, God promises an end to all of it. "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:17).

So today, if you are feeling far from God, remember His promise that "surely I am with you always, to the very end of age." If there is something in your life stopping you from going back to God, pray to Him and turn back. Remember, God is always waiting and watching for his children to come back to Him.