Go! And Trust Him When You Can’t See Him - Job 23:8-10 Series

Go! And Trust Him When You Can’t See Him - Job 23:8-10

Job 23:8-10 (NLT): "I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold."

Introduction: Faith That Sees the Invisible

Have you ever had a moment where God felt silent? A moment where prayers seemed to echo into nothingness? You searched for His presence, but He felt distant? If that’s you today, you are not alone. The Bible is full of people who loved God deeply yet endured seasons of divine silence.

Today, we continue our "Go! And..." series with this powerful message: "Go! And Trust Him When You Can’t See Him."

This sermon is not just for those in crisis; it is for every believer learning to walk by faith and not by sight.

1. Job’s Experience: When You Can’t Track Him, Trust Him

Job 23:8-10 is Job's cry from the heart of suffering. He is searching for God, but cannot locate Him.

Verse 8: "I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him."

Verse 9: "He is hidden... He is concealed."

Verse 10: "But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold."

Hebrew: Bachan (???? ??????) = "test, examine, try." God is not absent; He is refining.

Job teaches us that God’s silence is not His absence. His hiddenness is often part of His refining work.

Charles Stanley said, *"When God is silent, He is not still. He is working behind the scenes for your good and His glory."

Even when you can’t trace His hand, you can trust His heart. Like Job, we are called to trust that God knows the way we take.

2. The Disciples in the Storm: Trust in the Darkness

Mark 4:37-40 (NLT): "But soon a fierce storm came up... Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat... The disciples woke him... When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind... 'Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?'"

The Sea of Galilee is known for sudden storms. These were experienced fishermen, but they panicked. Why? Because Jesus was sleeping.

Greek: Pistis (faith) = not just belief, but trust with confidence.

Jesus was present, even while silent. He was not unaware, just unalarmed. His power is not diminished by our panic.

A child holding a father’s hand in the dark. The child can’t see, but the father sees. The child trusts not what they see, but who they are with.

Max Lucado said, *"God sees the end from the beginning. Trust Him when you can’t see the road ahead."

Jesus may appear asleep, but He is still Lord over the storm.

3. Thomas’ Doubt: Seeing Isn’t Always Believing

John 20:24-29 (NLT): Thomas said, "I won’t believe unless I see..." Jesus replies, *"You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me."

Greek: Makarios = blessed, happy, favoured by God. Jesus blesses unseen faith.

Faith isn’t about perfect evidence; it’s about perfect trust in Jesus.

John Piper said, *"Faith is seeing the invisible, not the imaginary."

We don’t need to see Jesus physically to believe in Him. We trust based on His Word and His resurrection.

Think of a blind pianist playing a masterpiece. He can’t see the keys, but he knows where they are. Why? Because of practice and relationship with the instrument. Likewise, we trust God through relationship.

4. Abraham’s Journey: Walking Without a Map

Hebrews 11:8 (NLT): "It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home... He went without knowing where he was going."

Abraham left everything based on a promise. He never saw the full fulfilment, yet trusted God.

Hebrewy: Emunah = faithfulness, firmness, steadfastness. Not just belief, but loyal trust.

Sometimes God gives us a direction without details. Faith says, "Lord, I trust You even when the way ahead is unclear."

Tim Keller said, *"Faith is trusting God when His plan doesn’t align with yours."

Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness. God still honours those who walk in obedience even without full sight.

5. Jesus in Gethsemane: Trust in Surrender

Matthew 26:39 (NLT): "He bowed with his face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'"

Even Jesus, in His humanity, experienced sorrow, struggle, and the silence of heaven. Yet He surrendered.

Application:

Trusting God means surrendering your will. Jesus trusted the Father even when it led to the Cross.