God's Presence In The Absence

This study is based on the sermon titled God's Presence In The Absence by Matthew Maher below.

In the sermon titled "God's Presence in the Absence" at Landmark Church, Pastor Matthew Maher led us through Paul’s deeply personal reflection in 2 Timothy 4. As Paul stood alone during his first defense, with no one to support him, he could have responded with bitterness. Instead, he chose forgiveness, echoing the merciful words of Jesus and Stephen. Paul’s account reminds us that ministry—and life—can be marked by both painful desertion and surprising grace. It also underscores a truth we all face: people may fail us, but God never does.

Paul's solitude opened the door to a deeper awareness of divine presence. “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me,” he writes, revealing that God didn’t just comfort him—He empowered him for purpose. What looked like abandonment was actually preparation. The absence of people cleared space for the presence of God to become undeniable. As Pastor Matthew reminded us, true courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the awareness of Jesus being near. When everything else is stripped away, what remains is often the most powerful: God with us, strengthening us to continue.

The message closed with Paul’s assurance that not only was he delivered from the lion’s mouth, but he would also be preserved for God’s heavenly kingdom. His confidence wasn’t in earthly rescue but in eternal hope. God’s presence in the absence became his anchor. Evil may rise, but it cannot overpower the Gospel. As the Landmark Church family was reminded, the Gospel doesn't shield us from all suffering—it promises that suffering doesn’t get the last word. With God beside us, we’re never truly alone—and we’re always held for something greater.