[mikeash]

Making up a story where your claim is true isn't very convincing. I can do that too:

"I'll sell you this prime Florida real estate for a bargain price."

"Can I see it?"

"No. But it's definitely real!"

The difference is that scenarios like mine happen all the time, whereas yours is really uncommon.

God actively conceals his presence so the humans don't act differently? Sounds like I shouldn't believe in God, then. If the all-powerful creator of the universe wants me to think he doesn't exist, why should I think otherwise?

You tell me that I need to seek God for myself without the influence of other people. Do you not see how that's inherently contradictory? How can there be a true church of God if we're all supposed to get there on our own? The whole idea of a church is that people get together and commune in their shared beliefs.