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**EDWARD D. ANDREWS** (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 200+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).

The question of why God doesn’t reveal Himself or why He hides Himself is a complex one with no one-size-fits-all answer. However, there are several factors to consider, including human free will, the limitations of human perception, and God’s ultimate plan for humanity.

The question of why God hides Himself is asked not only by atheists and agnostics seeking to cast doubt on God’s existence but also by believers seeking a personal experience of God. It leads to further questions such as “Is there a God?” and “If God exists, how can we know that He exists, and why doesn’t He reveal Himself more clearly?” In times of trouble, many wonder if God is there and if He cares about their problems. However, the Bible provides some insight into these questions. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” This shows that God has revealed Himself through the beauty and order of creation. Romans 1:20 also says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” God has made Himself known through what He has created. Additionally, God has revealed Himself through His Word, the Bible, which contains His thoughts, character, and will. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. In John 14:9, Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” So, while God may not reveal Himself in the way some may expect or desire, He has provided ample evidence of His existence and character for those who seek Him.

First, God has given humanity free will, which means that we are free to choose whether or not we want to believe in and follow Him. God does not force Himself on us or reveal Himself in an overwhelming manner that would override our free will. Instead, He reveals Himself in ways that are often subtle and require us to seek Him out (Jeremiah 29:13).

Second, human perception is limited. We are finite beings with finite minds, and as a result, we are not capable of fully comprehending God’s infinite nature. We can only know God in part (1 Corinthians 13:12), and even then, our understanding of Him is often clouded by our own biases and limitations.

Third, God’s ultimate plan for humanity involves faith and trust in Him. He wants us to have faith in Him and trust in His goodness, even when we cannot see Him or understand His ways. This requires us to exercise our faith, which is strengthened as we seek God through prayer, worship, and obedience to His Word.

A biblical perspective on God’s hiddenness tells us not to worry too much. While God may not reveal Himself in the way we expect or demand, He still reveals Himself to those who seek Him with faith (Heb 11:6). As Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7). God’s presence can be found in the beauty and order of creation (Ps 19:1-4), in His Word (2 Tim 3:16), and in the Holy Spirit, who lives within believers (Jn 14:16-17). At times, God may seem hidden or silent, but we can trust that He is always at work for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). Rather than seeking physical proof of God’s existence, we should seek to know Him through faith and prayer (Jn 17:3; Phil 4:6-7).

The Bible assures us that even though God may seem hidden, we can still find Him if we seek Him with a faithful heart (Jeremiah 29:13). While we cannot see God physically, we can ask Him to reveal Himself to us and acknowledge the ways He has already chosen to reveal Himself. These include through His Word (Exodus 3:14; Hebrews 1:1), through His Son Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14), through creation (Psalm 19:1-2), through His Spirit (John 14:16-17), and through the witness of believers (Acts 1:8). So, while we may not fully understand why God seems hidden at times, we can trust in His promise to reveal Himself to those who seek Him.

Despite the fact that God often seems hidden or distant, He has revealed Himself to us in many ways. Through creation (Romans 1:20), the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), the life of Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3), and the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), God has made Himself known to us. We must seek Him out, trust in His goodness, and follow Him with faith and obedience.