Tomorrow is the birthday of a very close family member. I remember their birth date as if it were my own. For 21 years we shared the same bedroom. People know us but are often not aware we are related. We don’t look alike, and we have few common interests. And, though friends, we speak only occasionally.
That’s how it can seem, at times, in our relationship with God. When we first meet Him, we “see” Him in all His glory. It is a bit like young love – it was all we thought about. We set out in our relationship with such enthusiasm. But, as time went on, things became familiar, and the excitement died down. We still love, but the razzmatazz has faded. And, at times, we can think that it is God who has moved away from us.
I’m sure that’s what Job thought when he said, “If only I knew where to find God…I go east, but He is not there. I go west, but I cannot find Him. I do not see Him in the north, for He is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed” (Job 23:3,8-9, NLT). I’m sure we can identify with Job. We pray expecting an answer, but it does not come. We acknowledge God knows best, but we expect our loving God to come to the same conclusions about our life and He would simply do our asking.
But we will see that Job learned there is “a real friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Prov 18:24, NLT). We do best to simply trust that God does know best; He does love us and wants only the best for us…for eternity. That will put it into perspective a little.
And, Happy Birthday, to my twin brother, Alan!
Bob Rogers
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