Both God and the devil are ever and always in and around each person; both Jesus and sin will never leave anyone. I may be aware of the presence of one or the other at any given time; it is helpful to be aware of which one is most present to me.
When God feels absent Sin and Satan fill the apparent void with sadness, turmoil, despair and chaos inside the self and the Enemy taunts, “Where is your God when you need him?” Then I miss the Lord and yearn for His peaceful presence; then I turn to my hope, my health, my joy and my life: my living God; then I repent and believe the Gospel and He is there with all I need.
A water metaphor describes the experience: tears are my food while waves of disorder (deep calls to deep) threaten the soul. I am in desperate need of the refreshing, tranquil, ordered and gentle brook.
In Jesus, God gives the grace to go from chaos to order, despair to hope, sadness to joy, tears to smiles, and from the Absence to the Presence of God through forgiveness and life freely gifted.