"Where's God in this?"

Hello friends--

I know this post is long, but please please stick it out until the end! I just had a lot to say and couldn't do it without making it a little longer.

So, as some of you may remember, in class this past Wednesday as we discussed The Book of Mev, the chapters about God and prayer seemed to dominate the conversation. Toward the end of class, Mark began talking about one of the chapters and why the woman seemed confused about her religion. He then went on to talk about when things in life get a little bit rough, where is God?

Sometimes in life we face hardships. We face loss of loved ones, health situations, and other things along those lines. Some of it may be trivial, and some of it not so much. And sometimes, really terrible things happen to really good people. In situations like that, Christian or not, I think it's very easy to blame God. In hard situations we get angry and ask him, "Why this person," or "Why now," or, you fill in the blank.

This may not apply to some of you; I don't know everyone's personal beliefs, but I hope it speaks to at least someone.

So, what happens when things don't go our way? Is God to blame? Is He with us, as it teaches us in scripture? Or, in other words, "Where's God in this?"

The answer that I have found it yes; He is with us in all things. Every time we feel pain, He is with us. And He has experienced it, too. To prove this, I bring up Jesus, who was God in the flesh. Jesus came to earth as a man to save the world from sin. He was to be crucified, and while on the cross after being beaten and mocked, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). 

Now to me, this seems strange. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, who lived a perfect, sinless life and was crucified as though he was a sinner and a criminal would ask where God was in his pain and suffering. 

I think all too often when christians question God and ask “why?” they also begin to doubt their own faith and think that maybe they are wrong. I mean, we’re supposed to trust God in all things, right? That’s what we’re taught, isn't it? But I think it’s overlooked that by questioning and doubting and crying out it shows that you still have hope in His promises. In John 16:33, Jesus says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

See, Jesus promises us that we will face trials. So when we ask questions and say “Father, why have you forsaken me,” it isn't a question that shows a lack of faith, it’s a way of asking God to draw near to you. Lack of faith would be giving up. It proves that you have no hope if you no longer ask questions; if you just walk away. Losing hope doesn't cause you to cry out to God and ask him where he is in your time of need. Picture a relationship. In marriage counseling, they teach you that it is a good thing to argue, because it shows that the marriage really is over when neither party has anything to say and they just say “I’m done” and give up and don't want answers. The same thing holds true in a relationship with Jesus. If you are seeking out, even in times of trouble, answers and reasons, it shows that you haven't yet given up.

Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." So, when things feel like they are falling apart, it is our job to remember that God is in control and it is His job to take care of the rest. We can't always see the bigger picture, but He has a plan for us. John 13:7 says, “Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’”

So yeah, sometimes really terrible things happen, and oftentimes those really terrible things happen to really good people. But God is with us and He is for us. And when we do cry out as Jesus did in anguish and ask God, “where are you,” we need to remember that He has a plan. Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” 

Asking questions is not a bad thing. Looking to God to see where he is, is not unhealthy. It shows that you have hope in Him, and just because you don’t understand your present suffering, you can take heart in the fact that He loves you unconditionally and that He will take care of you. I hope that this brings a new light to anyone going through a situation in which they are feeling this way. Thanks for reading!

Paige