When God Feels Far
Rejection, Jealous Anger, and the Hope That Doesn’t Quit
If you're an avid news watcher, chances are you're feeling one of two things:
Either it seems like God is absent, or if He's present, then He must be very, very angry. War headlines, moral decay, and rising persecution can stir fear in our spirit, especially if we don’t know where to stand.
But I want to bring you a message of hope today.
Yes, persecution is rising, and yes, the world is shaking. But the Kingdom of God is not.
Jesus gave us the blueprint in Matthew 24:14:
“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
That means the mission hasn’t stalled. It’s advancing. God is not done.
And if we listen to this message—if we stay in His presence and His Word—we won’t just survive the chaos. We’ll thrive in it. Like salt and light in a decaying world, we are here for a purpose far greater than ourselves.
📖 Psalm 60:1–2 — When It Feels Like Rejection
“You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry—now restore us!
You have shaken the land and torn it open;
mend its fractures, for it is quaking.”
— Psalm 60:1–2
This was written by David in the middle of national defeat. It felt like everything was coming undone. As you read on, it seems more like the presence of God is the topic of concern, not defeat.
“You have rejected us…”
“You have been angry…”
“The land is quaking…”
David isn’t complaining or outwardly processing here. He’s lamenting.
Though we don't practice lamenting as a society, we certainly practice rejecting people. But was God actually rejecting them? Or was David naming what discipline feels like when you’re in covenant?
Not Rejection—Refining
The Hebrew word for “rejected” (זָנַח, zanach) can also mean cast off or disfavored. It’s often used to describe relational distance, not permanent abandonment.
God hadn't and doesn’t break covenant. Israel had. And like a good Father, He allowed consequences to draw them back.
This isn’t rejection.
It’s refining love.
A love you want to be a part of, a jealous love.
But David also speaks about anger. In my further scripture reading about God’s anger, I found some great understanding for us.
Jealous Anger: What Does That Even Mean?
Let’s fast-forward to another psalm:
“How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?”
— Psalm 79:5
Here’s the deal.
Thankfully, God's anger isn’t like ours. It’s not petty, random, or emotionally unstable.
It’s jealous, which in Scripture means covenantal, protective, and zealous.
Forgive me for these pictures; this is the kind of fire a husband feels when his bride keeps running into the arms of another lover.
It’s the ache of a Father whose children have turned their backs and keep drinking the world’s poison.
Zephaniah picks up this same theme:
“In the fire of his jealousy
the whole earth will be consumed…”
— Zephaniah 1:18
But keep reading, and you’ll see: God's fire is not to destroy. It's to purify.
“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves…
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
— Zephaniah 3:17
The same God whose anger burns also sings over His people with delight.
That’s the tension of holy love.
Never Finished Challenge: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Here’s what to do when the world is burning, and it feels like God is silent:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14
This isn’t a call to watch from the sidelines.
This is the battle cry of every believer.
Are you mad about the riots (I know you are because I saw your Facebook post)? Are you angry about the decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites? Zooming in: Are you frustrated with your spouse, work, or the mistreatment of your children?
So here’s your challenge today:
The Never Finished 7:14 Challenge
Humble yourself — Confess what you’ve been carrying without God.
Pray and seek His face — No more casual glances. Seek with hunger.
Turn from distraction and compromise — Remove what dulls your spiritual senses.
Believe He will respond — He always moves toward the humble.
GO! Spread the gospel, on your social media, to your friends, in your workplace, on the plane, to your neighbor….
If you feel nervous or hesitant, ASK Him for the zeal to do the above things.
What does today say about God?
The Kingdom Doesn’t Retreat.
It’s okay if you’ve felt like David.
It’s okay if you’ve asked, like Asaph, “How long, Lord?”
But don’t stay there.
The surrounding chaos is not a sign to give up– it’s a signal to go deeper.
Jesus said the gospel would be preached to all nations before the end.
That means you still have work to do. Yes, you still have PURPOSE! Far beyond your job.
And the God who feels distant?
He’s actually calling you closer than ever before.
To have a God who calls us closer despite His creation sprinting far away tells me He loves me.
With a never-ending, unconditional, Father-son love.
What a Father,
What a King,
What a Savior!
Thank you, Jesus!