Have you seen the One my heart loves? – Thomas Brooks

“All night long on my bed I looked for the One my heart loves; I looked for Him but did not find Him.” Song of Songs 3:1

“Have you seen the One my heart loves?” Song of Songs 3:3

“I opened for my lover, but my lover had left; He was gone! My heart sank at His departure. I looked for Him but did not find Him. I called Him but He did not answer.” Song of Songs 5:6

Let your hearts lie humble and low under the loss of God’s gracious presence.

The loss of God’s gracious presence is the greatest loss.

The loss of God’s gracious presence is a loss-embittering loss; it is a loss that will greatly embitter all your worldly losses. I have lost my health, I have lost a precious child, I have lost a gracious spouse, who was the delight of my eyes and the joy of my heart; I have lost a costly estate, I have lost an intimate friend, I have lost a thriving trade. Oh, but that which embitters all my losses, and puts a sting into them, is this that I have lost the gracious presence of God that once I enjoyed!

The loss of God’s gracious presence is a loss that all outward comforts can never make up. When the sun is set, nothing can make it day with us.

The loss of God’s gracious presence is a soul loss; and no losses can be compared to soul losses. As there are no mercies compared to soul mercies, so there are no losses to soul losses.

The loss of God’s gracious presence is a loss which will cost a man dearly, before it will be made up again. Oh the sighs, the groans, the strong cries, the earnest prayers, the bottles of tears that the recovery of the divine presence will cost!