I cannot see Him

Job 23:8-9

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

In His great trial and temptation, Job seems to be unable to see what the Lord is doing. It appears to him that the Lord has left Him; is hiding; is concealing himself from Job’s sight. Indeed, He cannot see that the Lord is doing anything at all. He seems to be eluding his keenest perception. He is out of reach, untouchable, outside His understanding. He cannot see His working. He can only notice the results of it. When He hath tried me, Job says, I shall come forth as gold. But during the trial and throughout his life, He cannot see what the Lord is actually doing. And is it not always the same? The Lord is always working in ways we cannot see, perceive, or understand. He eludes our grasp. Why does He do this? It is all part of His working. If we knew what the Lord was doing, we might be afraid, and shrink back from Him. If we knew what He was doing, we would not understand, and would be distracted by our inability to discern it. We would desire to take back the reigns, and begin to pilot our own lives. But this would be a great danger. For we would immediately plunge our souls into peril and destruction. Our lives need a pilot, a guide, a shipmaster. A captain is needed to prevent our smashing headlong onto the rocks of this life. We need His leading, His guiding, His care. Do not be bewildered, my dear friend, if you cannot see, perceive, or discern what God is doing.

Now today, let us leave the things we do not understand in His holy hands. Perhaps you look on the right, and cannot see Him. You look on the left, and cannot make out the image of One working for your good. You look forward and backward, and there is nothing to soothe the questions of your soul. That is when we must leave it fully up to Him, and let our minds be reminded of the great truth once again that He does all things for our good. And it is for them that love God, and are called according to His purpose. Enter this day into full trust in Him, that although you cannot perceive it, the Lord doth work. Whether on the right hand, or the left hand, whether before us or behind us, the Lord is at work. Will you take a moment to thank Him right now for the ways He is working that you cannot see?

Mr. Hopper sums it up well in this simple prayer:

Jesus, Savior, pilot me,

Over life’s tempestuous sea:

Unknown waves before me roll,

Hiding rocks and treach’rous shoal;

Chart and compass come from Thee–

Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

“Until we enter that heavenly rest, help us to place all our trust in Thee. When we see Thee not, guide us and lead us to that wondrous glory awaiting those who endure trials and temptations. We lean on Thy invisible, loving hand. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”