One argument atheists present against God is that we can't see God or sufficient evidence of God's presence.

For Christians, it can be a challenge for our faith that God is unseen. Why does He not make Himself readily apparent and present to us?

It can be a challenge for our faith that God is unseen. Why does He not make Himself readily apparent and present to us?

Job 13:20-28 Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy?
Job 23:8-10,13-17 God's hiddenness and inscrutable works.
Job 37:23 The Almighty — we cannot find Him.
Psalm 10:1,11-13; 13:1; 14:1-5; 43:1-2; 44:1-26; 74:1-23; 88:1; 89:46 Feeling forsaken by God.
Psalm 27:7-10; 102:1-2; 143:1-8 Plea to God to hear our petitions.
Psalm 42:1-11; 63:1-2; 73:25-26; 84:2; 143:6 As a deer pants for the water brooks…
Isaiah 45:15

Miracles Are of Limited Value

Much as we would like to see miracles to affirm God's power and presence, they may not be as transformative to us as we would like.

Numbers 22 Balaam seemed to have some idea who God was, but didn't act in harmony with God's will and purpose.
Deuteronomy 4:32-40; 5:23-33; 8:14-20 Consider the history of Israel, all the miracles they saw, and yet their limited capacity to understand, love and obey God.
1 Kings 19:11-13 God showed some miraculous signs to Elijah, but God was present in the still, small voice.
Psalm 78
Psalm 95:7-11 quoted in Hebrews 3:7-19. Today, if you will hear His voice: "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me…"
Jonah 1:1-3; 4:1-3 Jonah received miraculous instructions from God, but didn't like God's character of mercy towards Nineveh.
Haggai 2:1-9 The second temple was modest compared to the first. It lacked the Shekinah (glory/presence of God); sacred fire; Urim & Thummim; ark of the covenant. But even if less glorious or miraculous, its glory would be greater than the first temple.
Luke 13:22-35 Many people witnessed Jesus's miracles, yet it didn't lead to repentance and a transformation of their lives that ought to have resulted.
Hebrews 3:12,16-19; 4:1-2,11-16 The ancient Israelites could not embrace God's salvation, due to unbelief and lack of faith.
James 2:19-20 The demons have no doubt about God's existence, but they are in rebellion to God.

Evidence May Already Be Sufficient

It may be that the evidence is amply sufficient for us to believe. But we need to have a heart to recognise it and accept it.

Psalm 19 The heavens declare God's glory.
Psalm 148 The natural world, created by God, glorifies God.
Jeremiah 33:25 God's creation shows His character.
Matthew 12:38-42; 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:16,29-32; John 2:18; 4:48 Jesus criticised the Jews of His day for asking for a sign. Apparently they had plenty enough signs, but weren't willing to see them for what they were.
Luke 1:1-4; John 15:27; 19:35; 20:30-31; 21:24-25 Jesus's disciples were witnesses of His words & deeds, recorded so that we may believe in Jesus.
John 6:30-31 They wanted to see Jesus miraculously produce bread. He told them, "I am the bread from heaven."
John 20:26-31 Jesus said to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed." This indicates to us that we should be able to believe in Jesus on the basis of the Biblical witnesses.
Romans 1:18-23 We ought to be able to discern God's power and authority from the world around us.

God Is Greater Than Us

We can't demand to meet God as an equal. We have to understand God's power, greatness, moral goodness.

Psalm 19:1-6
Psalm 111:2
Isaiah 40:26

Job complained about God's injustice, and that Job wasn't able to bring his complaint to God to be heard.

Job 23:1-17

But God is above us, in His heavenly realms. It is God's prerogative to live above us and be beyond our apprehension and comprehension.

2 Chronicles 6:18-19
Job 38; 39; 40; 41
Psalm 8:3-5
Psalm 113:4-6
Psalm 144:3
Isaiah 55:8-9

We Cannot See God While In Our Human State

Exodus 33:20,23 Moses saw God, but could not see His face. "Man shall not see Me and live."
1 Timothy 6:16 …who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see…

This Era is of God Deliberately Hiding Himself and Veiling the Truth

Job 11:7 We have limited capacity to discover and understand the deep things of God.
Psalm 77:19 The footprints of God's activities were hidden.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 People think they can get away with doing wrong, because God's judgement isn't speedy.
Isaiah 8:17 God even hid Himself from Israel, His chosen nation.
Isaiah 45:15 Truly you are God, who hide yourself.
Amos 8:11-14 At times, God sends a spiritual famine on the land.
Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21
Mark 4:11-12 …to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive…’
John 12:35-41 Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.
Romans 11:25 Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

God Hides Himself From Sceptics and Doubters

Psalm 10:4,11-13; 42:3,10; 73:11 Skeptics express their skepticism about God, while failing to seek God.
Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3 The fool says in his heart, "there is no God".
Psalm 79:10; 115:2 Skeptical Gentiles.
Joel 2:17 Micah 7:10
Malachi 2:17 Where is the God of justice?
Romans 1:28

Jesus Sometimes Hid His Ministry

Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45 Jesus healed a leper, and told him not to tell anyone. But he spread the word freely, so Jesus couldn't go into cities.
Matthew 9:27-31 Jesus healed two blind men. He told them not to spread the news, but they did.
Matthew 12:15-21 Jesus healed the crowds, but warned them to keep it quiet. A fulfilment of Isaiah 42:1-4.
Mark 3:12 Jesus commanded unclean spirits not to say who He was.
Mark 5:43 Jesus restored a girl to life, then told them to keep it quiet.
Mark 7:24-30 Jesus wanted to be hidden in Tyre, but was unsuccessful. A Greek woman begged him to heal her daughter.
Mark 7:31-37 Jesus healed a deaf mute, and commanded him not to spread the word. But people did.
Mark 8:11-12 Jesus refused to give a sign for the Pharisees.
Mark 8:22-26 Jesus healed a blind man.
Mark 8:27-30 Jesus told His disciples not to spread the word that He was the Christ.
Mark 9:1-10 Transfiguration. He told them not to tell anyone, until after He was resurrected.
Luke 4:16-21 He only read to half-way through verse 2; he didn't fulfil more notable things that will come at His return.

God Reveals Truth As and When and to Whom He Pleases

Daniel 2:28 God reveals secrets to whomever He pleases. Even to Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:9,18

God Has Revealed Things To Chosen People

Amos 3:7 God has revealed things to His prophets.
Matthew 11:25-26; Luke 10:21-24 The Father has hidden things from the wise, and revealed them to children.
Matthew 13:11-17; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10 It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom. Parables are used to hide the truth from everyone else.
Luke 10:21-24 Hidden from the wise, revealed to babes.
John 6:44 No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws them.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Not many wise, mighty, noble are called.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16 The Holy Spirit enables understanding of the things of God, to those who are given it.
1 Peter 1:10-12 The prophets prophesied of Jesus without really understanding their own message at the time.

Mysteries Revealed In Scripture

Deuteronomy 30:11 God's commandment is not too mysterious.
Matthew 13:11-17; Mark 4:11-12; Luke 8:10 It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom.

The Apostle Paul often spoke of mysteries that God revealed in Christ and in the early New Testament church.

Romans 11:25 The mystery of the calling of the Gentiles.
Romans 16:25 The mystery about Jesus the Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:7 The mystery of God that is to do with the identity of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:1 The apostles were stewards of the mysteries of God.
1 Corinthians 13:2 Understanding of mysteries, versus love.
1 Corinthians 14:2 Speaking in tongues — speaking mysteries.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 The mystery of the first resurrection.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Mystery of God's will: to gather all things in Christ.
Ephesians 3:1-12; Colossians 1:25-27 Mystery of salvation being available to Gentiles.
Ephesians 5:32 Mystery of Christ and the church.
Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:3 Paul's duty to preach the mystery of the gospel of Christ, while enduring a trial of chains.
Colossians 2:2-3 …the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 The mystery of lawlessness.
1 Timothy 3:9 Deacons must hold the "mystery of faith" with a pure conscience.
1 Timothy 3:16 The mystery of godliness: Christ manifested in the flesh, and then received up to glory.
Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars in Jesus's right hand.
Revelation 10:7 At the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God will be finished.
Revelation 17:5-7 The mystery of the woman riding the scarlet beast. On her forehead is written, "Mystery, Babylon…"

This Era is of Satan Ruling the World

John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 Jesus talked about the "ruler of this world" who is in opposition to God, and soon will be judged.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 The "god of this age" blinds people to the truth and the gospel.
Ephesians 2:1-3 The course of this world is led by the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 6:10-12 We must put on the armour of God, to resist the devil, and principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Our Sins Cause a Separation From God

Genesis 3:21-24 After Adam's and Eve's sin, they were no longer able to be in God's presence, and lost access to the tree of life. Adam and Eve's choice to eat from the other tree is representative of our desire to "go our own way" and make our own choices, rather than trusting God. This requires a time in which we are free to make our own choices without intervention from God.
Deuteronomy 31:17-18; 32:19-38 God hid Himself from Israel due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry.
Proverbs 15:8-9,29 God is far from the wicked, but hears the prayers of the righteous.
Isaiah 8:6,11-20 God hid Himself from Israel & Judah because they rejected Him. They would seek mediums and wizards instead of God.
Isaiah 50:1 God compares His people to a divorced wife.
Isaiah 57:15-17
Isaiah 59:1-15 Your iniquities have separated you from your God.
Jeremiah 5:25 Your sins have withheld good from you.
Ezekiel 8:6,12 Israel's abominations made God go far away from His sanctuary.
Ezekiel 39:21-24 The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity.
Hosea 5:6-7 They will seek the Lord, but will not find Him. They have dealt treacherously with the Lord.
Hosea 7:1 God wished to heal Israel, but their iniquity was revealed.
Romans 1:18-32
3 John 1:11 He who does evil has not seen God.

God Sees How We Live In His Absence

Job 42:1-6 Job thought he knew God, but came to see that he had an insufficient concept of God's greatness.
Isaiah 57:11 "Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?"
Ecclesiastes 8:11-12 People do evil and are not immediately judged for it. But God's judgement is surely coming in due course.
Matthew 24:45-51 Consider the servant who says "My master delays his coming" and does wickedly.
1 John 4:20-21 If we don't love our brother whom we see, how can we love God whom we don't see?

Patience

Matthew 10:22; 24:13,46; Mark 13:13 He who endures to the end will be saved.
Luke 8:15 Bear fruit of righteousness with patience.
James 1:2-4 The testing of your faith produces patience and other virtues.
James 5:7-11
Revelation 21:7

God Wants Us to Seek Him

1 Chronicles 28:9 Message to Solomon: If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
2 Chronicles 7:12-18 Message to Solomon: God wanted to bless those who humbly repent, obey, seek Him.
2 Chronicles 15:1-9 Message to Asa: God is findable by those who seek Him. If we forsake God, He will forsake us.
Psalms 9:10
Psalm 27:8
Psalm 119:2,10
Psalm 145:18 God isn't too far away, for those who call to Him in truth.
Proverbs 2:1-9; 8:17 Seek and find wisdom.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek God while He may be found.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 Search for God with our whole heart.
Hosea 6:6 God desires that we have the knowledge of God, more than ritual worship.
Hosea 7:7,10,14-16 Seek God with our heart.
Amos 5:4-7 Seek the Lord, and live.
Amos 5:14-15 Seek good, not evil; love good and establish justice.
Matthew 5:6 Hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13 Ask, seek, knock.
Mark 4:24-25 The measure you use will be the measure you receive.
Acts 17:22-31 God hopes that we might grope for Him and find Him — He is not too far from us.
Hebrews 11:6 Approach God with faith.
James 1:5 Ask God for wisdom.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

Learn to Trust God's Character and Promises

Luke 11:5-8 Parable of friend at midnight.
Luke 18:1-8 Parable of the persistent widow.

Know God Through Creation

Psalm 8:1-9
Psalm 75:1
Psalm 111:2
Psalm 113:4
Psalm 139:13-18
Psalm 148
Jeremiah 33:25
Romans 1:18-25

Know God Through His Holy Word

Isaiah 8:20
John 17:17
Acts 24:14
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Hebrews 4:12

Know God Through His Moral Law

Live a life of obedience and submission to God. See His moral goodness.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 Love God by keeping His commandments.
Joshua 1:8
Psalm 19:8-11
Psalm 119
Matthew 5:6
Matthew 22:34-40 Greatest commandments: love God and neighbour.
John 14:15,21,23-24 We love God and know God by keeping His commandments. Father and Son make their home with such a person.
John 15:9-17
Romans 7:7-12
Romans 13:8-14
1 John 2:3-6,29; 5:1-3

Know God by Discerning His Character

The Bible tells of God's desire for us, for obedience, salvation and freedom from sin, mercy, reconciliation, peace, fellowship.

Exodus 34:5-8
Jeremiah 9:23-24
1 Peter 1:8

Know God Through Jesus Christ

Matthew 11:25-30 "Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden…"
Luke 1:1-4; John 20:27-31 The gospels were written and spread so that people may know and believe in Jesus.
John 1:4-18; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5 Jesus is the light who shines in the darkness.
John 14:7-11 If we've seen Christ, we've seen the Father.
John 15:1-8 Christ is the vine, we are the branches.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Colossians 1:15
Hebrews 1:1-4

Know God Through His Spirit

Jeremiah 31:33-34 The Holy Spirit in the New Covenant enables people to know God.
Luke 11:9-13 Ask, seek, knock for God's Holy Spirit.
John 1:13; 3:3-8 We must be reborn of the Spirit.
John 14:15-31 In v.22, Judas asks "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" In v.15,21,23-24 Jesus says we love God and know God by keeping His commandments. Father and Son make their home with such a person. Father and Son interact with those born of the Spirit, through the Spirit.
John 16:7-15
Romans 8:1-17 If we live by the Spirit rather than by the flesh, we become children of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16

Holy Spirit Could Come After Christ Left

John 16:7-15 Jesus Christ returning to heaven may seem like a step backwards. But Jesus Christ said it is better for us.

Know God Through Committing Our Life to God

Don't just know God in theory, but in virtue proven by life lived in God's guidance.

Exodus 20:6
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalm 103:17-18
Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of wise & foolish virgins. The Lord said to the foolish virgins, "I do not know you."

Living By Faith

Seek God in faith, and live a life of faith.

Romans 4:13
Romans 10:17
2 Corinthians 4:18 We aspire to reach the eternal things, though they are are presently unseen.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We walk by faith, not sight.
Hebrews 11:1-2,6 Faith is conviction in the things that are unseen for now.
1 Peter 1:3-12 Hope in the unseen realm that is reserved for us. Hope in Jesus, "whom having not seen you love; though now you do not see Him, yet believing…"

God's Judgement Is Surely Coming

Psalm 50:21-23
Psalm 73 Meditation on the short-term prosperity but ultimate fate of the wicked.
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 People do evil and are not immediately judged for it. But God's judgement is surely coming in due course.

We Will See God When Sin is Removed

Jeremiah 31:33-34
Matthew 5:8
1 Corinthians 13:12
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1
Hebrews 12:14
Revelation 21:1-8
Revelation 22:1-5,14