We are all have been in exile. And for some of you reading this, you may be in exile as you are reading this. Being in exile means being  in a place in your life where you don’t really want to be. It’s that time where you go through all types of hurtful trials and tribulations and you just can’t believe it. You may be in exile solely because it’s your fault. Moses went into exile because he had killed an Egyptian and an Israelite was threatening to tell all about it. But some people are in exile and it’s really not their fault at all. For instance, the story of Joseph, being sold into Egypt at a young age must have been really hard for him. But in the book of Acts, they say something so beautiful that I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears when I saw it. “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt, but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh…” Acts 7:9-10

Even though Joseph was going through the worst situation ever (being sold by your siblings for money into another country, can it get worse than that?), the Bible tells us that God saw it and He was with him. And don’t we have this promise? “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”. Matthew 28:20

But I have to admit, sometimes it really feels like God has turned away either because of my countless mistakes or because maybe He has some other things more important that He has to attend to. 

I believe I am not alone in feeling this, am I? David pleaded with God to not turn away from him, because he was afraid that maybe God could turn His face from him. 

“Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!” Psalm 102:2

Again, fervently we see David pray and cry out to God:

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!” Psalm 27:7-9

I love the psalms. Because they are so real and we can relate to them. We see David praying fervently because he wants change in his situation, and he really doesn’t feel like God is responding as quickly as He should. But who are we to tell God how fast he should work in our situation? God, please remember that we are nothing but dust. I like the NIV translation of Psalm 102:2, it says “when I call, answer me quickly”. Isn’t it amazing to see that David, a man after God’s own heart felt the same way as we sometimes feel? Because truthfully, sometimes the only words I have strength to whisper are these very words “Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly”. 

The crucial thing is this: it doesn’t matter that you feel like God is not there, or that He turned His face from you, you have to remind yourself the truth. You can not let the truth be buried under your pain. The truth is what will get you through your time in exile.

Yes, I will cry times I feel like I just can’t go on, but I will remind my soul that God is with me.
Even when I am in exile, I will remind my soul all that You have done, Lord. I will remind myself Your faithfulness, Your amazing and forevermore unending love. And even though my prayers may not be answered as quickly as I would wish, I know the truth will always carry me.

I just wanted to write this post to encourage some of you who may be drowning in the sea of worry and trials. Cry out to God, I assure you it may not feel like He is there with you, but He is. There is nothing wrong with feeling like He is not there. Be honest with God and tell Him how you feel: “God I don’t feel like You are with me in this exile, but I will keep trusting that You are with me and that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Father God, I will keep holding on to Your truth”.

Keep pressing on, keep holding on to God for He is forever with you.