ISAIAH 45:15 – Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.

THEME OF THE DAY. OUR HIDING GOD. Sometimes it feels like it – God hiding Himself especially during trying times when we cry out for His comforting presence and we are met with a silence and no relief. We feel abandoned, even ignored by the Lord and during those times the devil will do his greatest work of discouragement in us. Yet, it is also during those times, if we respond correctly, we shall know the greatest spiritual work in us. A faith worth having must be a faith developed through the dark times seeking the God we encounter in today’s scripture; our hiding God. And remember, He isn’t really hiding from us. He is teaching us. Like He did in the following hymn titled, God Moves in Mysterious Ways penned by William Cowper in 1774. When times are hard and God seems hidden, use this hymn as a source of encouragement. It has proved to do that for many saints over the past two hundred plus years.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to trust You even when I don’t feel or sense You.”

QUOTE: “The Christian must learn to trust God, not only in the “sunny days”, but in the dark ones too.”