Felt Presence

Hearing an infant cry at bedtime can be one of the most unnerving situations for young parents to handle. When my wife and I first encountered this phenomenon, we struggled to resist the urge to go into our baby’s room and console her little heart. We would peek through the door from time to time—making sure she wasn’t actually hurt or in danger—but we refrained from going in.

Why do parents put their infants (and themselves) through such misery? Because, among other reasons, we’re giving our little ones the opportunity to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them. (Okay, maybe it does when they’re infants, but we don’t want them to know it!)

We also refrain from picking up newborns every time they whimper, helping them to develop a resiliency that will aid them later as they move through difficult situations. And even though it might not have seemed like it, we were with our kids through all the sobs and tears.

Likewise, we may not feel God’s presence in the midst of difficult times, but that doesn’t mean He’s not there—working behind the scenes. Joseph was a person who had reasons to feel like God wasn’t present in his life. His jealous brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:12-28). Then he was carted off to a foreign land where he was sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit (Genesis 39:1-20).

But even in an Egyptian prison “the Lord was with [him]” (Genesis 39:20-21). As Joseph would explain many years later to his brothers who had betrayed him, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).

God is there, even when His presence isn’t immediately felt.

Taken from “Our Daily Journey”