{"id":6942,"date":"2025-05-06T16:37:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T20:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6942"},"modified":"2025-06-06T00:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T04:31:08","slug":"when-i-dont-feel-gods-lovingkindness-2-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6942","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) If God is with us, why are These Things Happening?"},"content":{"rendered":"

While sitting in a dungy cell, John the Baptist shifted from pointing out Jesus as the Lamb of God to wondering if another should be expected.<\/p>\n

Now when John,\u00a0while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent\u00a0word\u00a0by his disciples and said to Him, \u201cAre You the\u00a0Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?\u201d (Matthew 11:2-3<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus responded, telling John\u2019s disciples to report to him that blind folks were seeing, the lame were walking, lepers were being cleansed, the dead were being raised, and the good news of the gospel was being preached to the poor. [1]<\/p>\n

Then He said, \u201cAnd blessed is he who does not take offense at Me,\u201d (Matthew 11:6 <\/strong>NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Others have had similar confusion.<\/p>\n

After the angel of the Lord said to Gideon, \u201cThe Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>(Judges 6:12<\/strong> NASB)<\/span> He<\/em>\u00a0asked, \u201cO my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?\u201d (Judges 6:13b<\/strong> NASB)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Since God is good and powerful, it seems natural to expect His presence to produce pleasant times.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During our hard times, how do we keep from stumbling and keep on trusting? How do we keep on obeying and not become discouraged?<\/p>\n

Blessed Are Those Who Don\u2019t Take Offense<\/span><\/h3>\n

Jesus\u2019 message to John the Baptist about folks being blessed when they don\u2019t take offense at Him lets us know it\u2019s possible to see things differently.<\/p>\n

But how?<\/p>\n

We get some ideas by reading what a couple of Jesus\u2019 disciples wrote after years of following Him.<\/p>\n

Peter<\/span><\/h4>\n

In fear of his life, Peter denied Christ three times, even with a curse. [2] Though he was one of Jesus\u2019 closest disciples, he hadn\u2019t yet grasped how God can use hard times to achieve something far greater than carefree days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Around 40 years later, he wrote the following verses: In this (<\/span><\/em>the fact that we have a constant hope, an inheritance which will never fail, and are guarded by God<\/span>)<\/span> you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith,\u00a0being\u00a0more precious than gold which perishes\u00a0though tested by fire,\u00a0may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at\u00a0the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and\u00a0full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of\u00a0your souls (I Peter 1:6-9<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Through these years, God had been at work, through Peter\u2019s own trials, to give him a new view of God\u2019s ways for His children.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Peter learned that trials may be required to prove our faith and deepen our trust in God, that eventually these trials will cause praise, glory, and honor. He also learned that even during trials, there\u2019s a significant reason for us to rejoice and have expressible joy.<\/p>\n

Peter\u2019s transformation is a miracle. And God is at work in us to achieve something similar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Paul<\/span><\/h4>\n

Until Jesus radically intervened in his life, Paul thought he was doing God\u2019s bidding by killing Christians.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like Peter, Christ taught Paul how hard times can deepen his trust and build his relationship with God.<\/p>\n

See what he wrote in 2nd Corinthians 1:8-9<\/strong><\/em>,\u00a0\u201cFor\u00a0we do not want you to be unaware, brothers\u00a0and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in\u00a0Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult to see the good when things are really hard, but Paul saw it took utter despair for him to learn to stop trusting in himself. The situation was so dire, he could only cry out to God. As a result, his faith grew.<\/p>\n

Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

Like John the Baptizer, Gideon, Peter and Paul, we have and will face circumstances which seem beyond our abilities to endure.<\/p>\n

What trial(s) are you going through right now?<\/p>\n

Are you aware of God\u2019s greater purpose for His children? He wants more for us than just happy circumstances.<\/p>\n

When Paul tells us that God is working in all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes, he\u2019s referring to something better than a tranquil life. God\u2019s purposes are to give us the freedom and joy of being conformed into the image of Christ. [3]\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are profoundly sanctifying forces at work when we cling to Jesus during our pain. Trials loosen our grip on lesser loves, freeing us to fully enjoy Jesus, who never leaves us.<\/p>\n

Trials can bring us joy because they develop endurance, which leads us to becoming complete, lacking nothing. They can show us we don\u2019t need a life of ease to be joyful. [4]<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord, I\u2019m sorry for ever assuming that being with You meant my life would be easy. I recognize that Your nearness is my good, not smooth circumstances, \u201cFor me, the nearness of God is my good.\u201d (Psalm 73:28<\/strong>)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I know You love me and that You want me to enjoy the moments of my life with You, no matter what I face.<\/em><\/p>\n

Though I would have never chosen the present trials in my life, I\u2019m amazed at how I love You with greater ferocity because You\u2019re using them to dislodge idols from my heart.<\/em><\/p>\n

Please continue to show me anything and anyone I\u2019ve chosen instead of You. Free me of these, I pray.<\/em><\/p>\n

I love you.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 Amen<\/em><\/p>\n

[1] Matthew 11:2-5<\/p>\n

[2] Matthew 26:74<\/p>\n

[3] Romans 8:28-29\u00a0<\/p>\n

[4] James 1:2-4<\/p>\n

Other posts in our series\u00a0In the Moments<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet Will I Rejoice<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Exploring Grace and Joy together<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay Present My Friends<\/a><\/p>\n

Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

The Cake Maker\u2019s Blunder<\/a><\/p>\n

God at Work (No Trespassing)<\/a><\/p>\n

Hidden with Christ in God<\/a><\/p>\n

Finding Joy in Love and Relationships<\/a><\/p>\n

Escaping the Rat Race<\/a><\/p>\n

When I don\u2019t Feel God\u2019s Loving Kindness<\/a><\/p>\n

Experiencing Completeness in Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

Overcoming Pain Through Faith<\/a><\/p>\n

Recalibrating Our Hearts<\/a><\/p>\n

The Joy of Waiting<\/a><\/p>\n

On the Fifth Day God Created Dog<\/a><\/p>\n

When Things get Really Hard<\/a><\/p>\n

A No Lose Situation, Even with Cancer<\/a><\/p>\n

Hey Pop<\/a><\/p>\n

Mustering Our Faith<\/a><\/p>\n

Lord, You’ve Got to this. I Can’t<\/a><\/p>\n

Better Than Life<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
Robby Buck<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family\u00a0Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The content explores the challenges of faith during difficult circumstances, focusing on figures like John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul. John, while imprisoned, questioned if Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus reassured him by highlighting His miraculous works. <\/p>\n

The author discusses how trials can deepen faith, citing Peter’s transformation and Paul\u2019s realization of God’s purpose through suffering.<\/p>\n

It emphasizes that true joy comes from reliance on God rather than circumstances.
\nBelievers are encouraged to see trials as opportunities for growth, leading to the conforming of their character to Christ’s image, ultimately finding joy in the nearness of God amid adversity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[889,1501],"tags":[2891,2894,2897,2849,2864,2813,2901,423,2107,2895,2889,1064,421,629,205,2836,1495,2095,2902,493,108,2882,2885,900,39,2886,1600,2887,18,2850,2900,2323,86,2893,695,510,2858,944,1705,2444,7,419,2883,2884,2892,2890,2881,2877,2878,2846,1699,2879,279,481,2843,2888,307,774,1860,545,110,2144,2899,2855,2837,2898,2834,632,2848,2866,591,2880,1319,1053,150,2896,1063,1388],"class_list":["post-6942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gods-eternal-purposes","category-gods-greater-story","tag-2-corinthians-1123-28","tag-beaten","tag-beaten-with-rods","tag-beyond-time","tag-call-to-courage","tag-cola-city-podcast","tag-cold","tag-courage","tag-courageous","tag-danger","tag-deepen-trust-in-god","tag-difficult-trials","tag-discouraged","tag-encouraged","tag-enjoying-jesus","tag-eternal-view","tag-experience-god-more-fully","tag-experienced-joy","tag-exposure","tag-following-jesus","tag-genesis-151","tag-gideon","tag-god-is-good","tag-gods-greater-story","tag-gods-nearness","tag-good-is-powerful","tag-greater-purposes","tag-higher-perspective","tag-holy-spirit","tag-hope-remains","tag-hunger","tag-i-peter-13-9","tag-ii-corinthians-18-9","tag-imprisonment","tag-james-12-4","tag-jesus-christ","tag-jews","tag-john-1633","tag-john-the-baptizer","tag-journaling","tag-joy","tag-joyful-heart","tag-judges-612","tag-judges-613","tag-labors","tag-love-and-joy-flourish","tag-matthew-1111","tag-matthew-112-3","tag-matthew-116","tag-messiah","tag-obedience","tag-offense","tag-paul","tag-peter","tag-physical-world","tag-protected-by-his-love","tag-psalm-1611","tag-psalm-7328","tag-redeemed","tag-rejoice-always","tag-rejoice-in-the-lord","tag-rhythms","tag-robbers","tag-samaritans","tag-self-dependence","tag-shipwrecked","tag-soul","tag-source-of-all-joy","tag-stability","tag-stirred-up-the-spirits","tag-striving","tag-stumbling-block","tag-suffering","tag-surpassing-love","tag-thirst","tag-thirty-nine-lashes","tag-trusting-god","tag-very-great-reward"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6942"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7114,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6942\/revisions\/7114"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}