A 'hidden' God

I have been reading about the wonderful Spirit-led spread of the Gospel in the book of Acts. Indeed, we can be not only amazed but grateful that there were people who obeyed the commandment to "go and preach the Gospel to all nations....." and allowed the Holy Spirit to move in their midst, often in very visible ways.

But in talking with a friend today, I was in a way challenged with the question, "Why is God so 'hidden' today? He showed himself quite clearly through many signs and wonders in the Scripture record.....but these are hardly present today. Does He need to remain so 'hidden' making it difficult for us to experience Him? Could we not also have faith if He made himself known more clearly to us, especially in the difficult situations in our lives?" A difficult question, one that I think no one could answer satisfactorily this side of heaven. It is also a question that has a context. Why is this person asking this at this time? What is happening in her lived experience of God? What are the areas of 'hiddenness' that she feels strongly about at this time? I did not have a chance to ask these and at that point did not want to put on the hat of a 'spiritual guide'. But such questions do make me think. I wonder if they remain unarticulated by many others, who find that what is taught in church about God does not connect with their own experience (or lack of) of Him.

Yes, God is 'hidden' for the most part today. In particular, no 'theophanies' in our times of suffering. Peace, possibly, but nothing compared to Job's experience. Job's miserable experience seemed 'worth it' considering his reward of 'meeting God' ("I had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you"). Yes, he did have a tremendous vision while on earth. Even the journey of the Exodus was full of the miraculous providence of God. Most of us will not experience God in these ways. But God has promised his presence (which often seems like absence to us!) now and a union with him (meeting him in some way) in the hereafter. I guess that promise is what most of us hold on to. That sustains our faith. And in the meantime, we could look around for some 'everyday miracles', to ask for the grace to "find God in all things and all things in God".