There is another way in which I may lose the presence of Jesus Christ, one that is difficult to understand and accept, but nevertheless true. It is the voluntary withdrawal of Christ Himself. There are times when He seems to withdraw Himself from us without any discernible reason. Yet the reason may be suggested in the Song of Solomon, where the Shulammite bride of Solomon complains twice about the absence of her lover. “I sought him whom my soul loves … but did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer” (Song of Solomon 3:1, Berkeley). The bride had done nothing to offend her husband; yet he was gone and could not be found. Again she says, “My Beloved had turned away; he was gone!” (5:6, Berkeley). Again she sought him and called to him, but he did not answer.
What is the Lord saying to me here? That the love of Christ to me is discerned in both the partings and the meetings, in both His presence and His apparent absence. I can understand how His presence enhances the love relationship between us, but how can His absence do so? Perhaps we will never know all the answers, but His seeming absence sharpens our awareness of Him and crushes the tendency to take Him for granted.
Very few (actually, I believe none) of the disciples of Jesus Christ enjoy the continual, unbroken realization of His presence and power in their lives. Many times we call but He does not answer; we seek Him but He withdraws from us. The reason is not always due to sin, carelessness, or indifference, for sometimes He is hiding His face to make us yearn all the more for Him; His absence will make our love grow sharper and fonder. If I lose Him for that reason, I must simply seek Him with my whole heart until I find Him again. I must do as the Shulammite did, “seek him whom my soul loves” (Song of Solomon 3:2, Berkeley), and soon I will be able to say with her, “I found him whom my soul loves” (v. 4, Berkeley).
“O God, do not remain quiet; do not be silent and, O God, do not be still” (Psalm 83:1).
Daily with the King 