Wrong Approach #2: God is Hiding
Sometimes we can get impatient and frustrated as we seek God’s will. If the answer doesn’t come soon enough, we may think that God is hiding from us or ignoring us. As I mentioned before, even some of the writers of the Bible felt this way at times (Psalm 13:1). We may even give up on finding His will.
Please don’t loose heart. Please don’t give up. Let me explain why it is wrong to think God is hiding. There are two reasons:
God is a God of Revelation
The Psalmist declared that God “made known His ways to Moses” (Psalm 103:7).
“Revelation” is a theological concept. It comes from the word “reveal.” Simply put, revelation means that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. Think about it–if God wanted, He could have hidden Himself completely from the human race. No one could have stopped Him, and we would just stumble around without knowing our Creator.
He didn’t hide. From Adam to Jesus Christ, the Bible is a book about God revealing Himself and His will to us. The fact that God reveals Himself is a guarantee that He will reveal His will.
The Bible Promises that God’s Will can be Found
Consider these promises:
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.
–Matthew 7:7-8 (CEV)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
–Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
The verbs “seek/search” and “knock” imply persistence. If we are persistent and do not give up, we will find God’s will!
The last thing God wants to do is hide from you or evade you. Search for His will and you will find it!
Is God silent sometimes? Is it because I did something wrong or displeasing before Him?
Sometimes we can’t hear God because of our own sin or stubbornness. Sometimes He’s just silent for no “reason” that we can understand.