In the Shadows

Have you ever felt like God was absent?

Looking for a New Job

I became a Christian in the summer after my sophomore year of college. At the same time, I got a job at a movie theater. It was pretty sweet.

  • Take people’s tickets. Sweep up theaters. Not hard work.
  • Free movie tickets whenever you want. Kinda awesome.

But after a couple years, I got frustrated with my bosses. Their leadership was less than ideal. I decided I was over it and started looking for a different job. I turned in resumes at places that were looking to hire college students. For some reason, I didn’t even get called in for an interview.

At first, I was confused. Then I got angry. I prayed. And prayed. I was a new Christian but had read the verses about how God answers our prayers. I knew he would give me a new job soon. He didn’t. I prayed more. Still, no job. It seemed like such an easy prayer to answer. I wasn’t asking for God to heal someone of a terminal disease. But God would not do what I wanted. It seemed like God was absent.

Looking for a New Queen

Did you know there’s a book of the Bible in which God is not mentioned? It’s true. The book of Esther tells the crazy story of a King who chooses a new Queen. God is never mentioned in the book of Esther.

The ironic thing is that while he seems absent, God is all over the book of Esther. In fact, there may be no book where God’s activity is more obvious.

We started a new teaching series this week at Verve called In The Shadows. We’re going through the amazing story of Esther, in which we see God working invisibly, in the shadows, to see his purposes fulfilled.

I love this story and I’m so excited to walk through it together.

Looking for God

I didn’t even get a call for an interview. I kept working at the movie theater. I was disappointed that God apparently didn’t care enough to answer my prayer.

Then a new guy started working at the theater. He didn’t believe in God. We became friends. I led him to faith in Jesus. He actually ended up going to Bible College. We’re still good friends today.

Then a new girl started working at the theater. She didn’t believe in God. We became friends. I led her to faith in Jesus. I actually ended up marrying her.

If I had gotten a different job … what would have happened to that guy, and to that girl? And … I never would have my wife.

I thought God was absent. I now wonder if there’s ever been a time when God was more active in my life.

You may be looking for God right now. Praying that God will intervene in some situation, but God isn’t doing what you want. Can I suggest that he’s probably doing something better?

  1. God loves you more than you love you.
  2. He wants what’s best for you and has a great plan for your life.

Despite what it seems, he is not absent. He is active. He loves your story and is excited to walk with you through it. Even if you can’t see him because he’s walking, and working, in the shadows of your life.