The Uninvited GuestSample

WHERE ARE YOU GOD?

Two questions I believe we ask in the middle of suffering are: 1/Who are you God? 2/Where are you God?

We ask God, Are you ambivalent? Are you faithful? Do you care? Are you powerless? Are you powerful? Who are you in my suffering?

Moments of suffering can bring the fear of divine indifference, rejection, or judgment. Is this suffering a rejection of me or is it punishment? These questions make negative assumptions about God’s character. And we might be tempted to despair in these moments and isolate ourselves from God, the one person who can bring hope.

There is a need for us to deepen and widen our view of God in the face of pain and put aside some of our misconceptions. We don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. We don’t have the whole picture. Carrying out justice in a world this complex cannot be done by any human but only by an all-knowing, all-seeing God.

The second question we ask is ‘Where is God?’

One thing we can be sure of in our pain and suffering is that God is present. One of His names describes this very characteristic. Emmanuel literally means God with us. He has not left you.

The presence of pain does not mean the absence of God. A good father does not run away from his children when they are suffering, rather he comes very close. It can certainly feel like He is not there when we suffer but we know that God cannot be untrue to His nature. His there-ness is part of His nature, whether we can feel His presence or not.

"God is not the light at the end of the tunnel, He is the light in the tunnel". In our suffering, He is very close.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" - Psalm 34:18

Prayer Point: Lord help me not be confused about who you are in my suffering. I know you are good. And help me to understand and experience your nearness in my suffering.