We are studying through Malachi on Sunday morning at North Village Church, and the people in Malachi have found themselves in a place of less confidence in God’s promises.

Now, keep in mind the children in Malachi have grown up hearing these glorious stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. They grew up hearing about Moses parting the Red Sea. They heard about David and Goliath. They heard about this glorious temple that Solomon built.

But, they also heard about 10 tribes being taken into captivity by a wicked people named Assyria, they heard about 2 tribes being taken into captivity by a wicked people named Babylon, they heard about their cities being burned, their people being murdered, and they are starting to wonder, “God where are you?”

Haven’t you ever been in that place?

The people in Malachi are still living under the rule of a foreign government, which is Persia, which means on the outside things look familiar, but on in the inside they are hollow. Yes, they are back with their families, but there is still oppression. Yes, there is the familiarity of the temple worship, but it isn’t the same. Yes, they are surrounded by God’s glory, but their souls are depleted.

Haven’t you been in those types of seasons in your life? It isn’t like you are walking around complaining out loud and angry. In fact, on the outside you might even appear okay, but on inside there is a spiritual, mental, or emotional fog.

It isn’t that you have given up. You are still committed to Jesus. You are still committed to His people, but you just aren’t as optimistic. You are becoming more jaded, more skeptical, and maybe on some level you feel like you are holding up your end of the bargain in life, but God isn’t holding up His end of the bargain. Haven’t you been there?

In the book of Malachi we get to see God’s people express their frustrations, and we get to see God respond.  Hopefully through our study of Malachi, through the power of the Spirit, we will respond to the frustrations in our lives by turning to the God of Scripture, expressing those frustrations, and asking for His help to believe Him, trust Him, and obey Him.