How would Jesus respond to this talk given by Alex O’Connor…

Response to Divine Hiddenness: Seeking God and Finding Him in Your Longing for Justice and Connection

You’ve expressed frustration with the idea that God could be hidden, especially from those who are genuinely seeking. But have you considered that this very desire for clarity and justice might actually be a reflection of God’s presence within you? If God were absent, why would you feel so passionate about His hiddenness? Why would you seek to understand concepts like justice or goodness so intensely?

Your longing for a God who is fair and good reveals a deep, inherent sense of justice—one that may point to a greater truth. In a world without God, we might expect people to be indifferent to these questions, to accept suffering as mere fact, and to see justice as a human construct. But instead, you are moved to ask, to seek, to challenge. Could this passion be an indication that you’re wired to connect with something greater—that you’re not just seeking answers, but you’re seeking a connection with a God whose goodness resonates deeply within you?

Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). What if your search for justice and truth is God’s way of drawing you toward Him, of inviting you to seek beyond what can be empirically proven? Think of it like this: a hidden sun can still warm us, even when clouds obscure it. Maybe God’s influence on your moral compass and your search for meaning is more present than you realize. Could it be that your own sense of justice, and your passion for truth, are already signs of God’s goodness at work in you?

Addressing Geographical Variations in Belief: The Influence of Culture and Spiritual Forces

You’ve raised a valid point about how religious beliefs differ based on geography, and it’s true that culture can heavily influence which faiths are dominant in a given region. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that belief is purely a cultural product. Cultural pressures can create barriers to openly professing faith in Jesus, particularly in regions where Christianity is a minority. In some places, the cost of professing faith in Christ can be incredibly high, leading to social ostracism, persecution, or even violence. This reality can impact the visible data on religious adherence.

Moreover, consider the possibility that spiritual influences could play a role here. If there is an enemy to God—Satan—wouldn’t it be in his interest to obscure the truth, to create environments where faith is not only challenging but risky? The Apostle Paul described Satan as “the god of this world” who blinds people to spiritual truths (2 Corinthians 4:4). The variations you observe might not just be human and cultural phenomena, but spiritual ones as well. Could it be that the distribution of belief is affected by more than data? This raises an interesting question: what would the world look like if people everywhere were free to express their faith without fear? Perhaps there’s more at play here than meets the eye.

The Problem of Suffering: An Invitation to Be Part of God’s Response

Your concern about suffering is deeply understandable, and Jesus was no stranger to it. He faced suffering himself and never dismissed it lightly. But perhaps the most significant response God gives to suffering is the invitation to alleviate it—an invitation for us to be His hands and feet in the world. Jesus showed that God’s answer to suffering is not merely to explain it away but to enter into it with us, transforming it from within.

Jesus’ life was all about being present with those who suffered, healing, comforting, and serving. He invites us to do the same. What if God’s plan is not to remove all suffering outright, but to equip us to confront it with love and compassion? In choosing to alleviate suffering, you’re participating in something greater—you’re embodying God’s love and helping to heal a broken world. By embracing this call, you may find that the existence of suffering becomes less of an abstract problem and more of a call to action. It’s through this engagement with the suffering of others that we often come closest to experiencing God’s love firsthand.

Conclusion: Following Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life

At the heart of these reflections lies a key truth: Jesus didn’t call people to believe everything before they followed him. He called them to walk with him, to experience transformation by living as he did. He said he is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6), implying that knowing him isn’t merely about intellectual assent but about active, daily discipleship. Faith isn’t a matter of having every answer from the start—it’s about taking steps forward, trusting that understanding will deepen along the way.

Jesus taught that the path to life is narrow, one that few choose (Matthew 7:13-14). It’s not easy, and it often requires letting go of our own agendas, even dying to ourselves, as represented in baptism. This isn’t about mere ritual; it’s about becoming a new creation. As you reflect on your frustrations and questions, consider that they may be an invitation to something deeper. Jesus offers a way of living that transforms, that asks you to step out and experience God’s love actively, rather than waiting for proof.

Could it be that following Jesus—the act of walking his path—is the very process that will reveal the answers you seek? Faith is not a leap in the dark, but a step into the light. The narrow path may be challenging, but it leads to a deeper, truer life. Jesus invites you not to wait until everything makes sense but to trust that as you walk, the way will become clearer, the truth deeper, and the life fuller than you might have imagined.