God, have you left me? Are you listening to me, God? Where are you? These are all questions that many people ask when they go through dark seasons of suffering, rejection, loss, or betrayal. Many times it feels as though we have been left in the middle of a very dry desert and know body knows where we are exactly. We cannot feel His presence.

I know this has been my story like many of God’s Generals we know theologically that God is omnipresent. Meaning his very presence feels like the universe. But in that dark hour of warfare, depression, and hopelessness. We feel God is a million miles away and that he is unconcerned about our pain and lives.

Press On

In these seasons many people pull away from God. They withdraw and stop praying and seeking His face and presence. They, because of exhaustion and fatigue just say God I’m too weak to pray and too tired to read my Bible. I have been there. However, in seasons of wilderness and drought, we must still press on and contend for the rain of the spirit in our lives and nation. We must still like David long for the beautiful presence of Jesus to overtake us in the midst of pain. Why? Because in God’s presence there is healing, deliverance, and refreshing.

Psalm 16:11:
“You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand, there are pleasures forever.”

We find there is joy, peace, and fulfillment in God’s presence. Many people search for these things in the world during these seasons. They revert to drinking, smoking, or other things to numb the pain of their wounded soul. But these things will never fill the void in your heart. Only a deep walk with the pursuit of the person if the Spirit will bring us through our storm. Better and stronger than before.

Presence Of God

To many this friendship and closeness with the Holy Spirit are foreign. But We must understand that the presence of God is not just this atmosphere of positive energy. But the presence of God is the person of the Holy Spirit. And He, in scripture, is called the comforter and the helper. He has been sent to help us in everything concerning the Christian life.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17 ESV)

The Holy Spirit is the very presence of Jesus active on the earth. He is a friend and the one that longs for our attention and affection. And He is the still small voice in the storm of our lives speaking peace to the storm. He can commune within your darkest moments. In these moments He releases supernatural peace and joy. The presence of God is truly our source and we must ask Him to come and rest upon us in these dark seasons. We must become his resting place. His presence has the ability to turn your desert season into a glorious vacation resort.

“I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” (Isaiah 41:18  ESV)

Cry Out To Jesus

In my own life, I have been going through a very dark season. I have felt like giving up, but I then go into the secret place and cry out to Jesus. As I do something incredible happens I began to feel the thick manifest presence of God fill my place of prayer. In those moments I know that there is nothing that He will not bring me through. Jesus had a moment like this in the garden before his death. The scriptures tell us that he was grieved to the point of death. That’s some major depression and grief.

“Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38  ESV)

Strength In His Presence

It was in this dark season that Jesus gained strength from the presence of His Father. The Bible tells us angels strengthened the savior at that moment. I don’t know what you are going through. It might be a dry season for you but I am here to encourage you. God’s presence is your source of strength. Pursue him like never before and he will sustain you and bring you through.

He is waiting upon you to call upon him in desperation. And He desires to bring his presence in a greater way into every area of your life. He wants every storm in our lives to draw us nearer to the throne. To perfect our character and to be used as a testimony for His Glory. No matter where you are I am here to tell you from experience that the presence of God is the only hope for your situation and our nation as a whole.