Where is God when we need Him?
Is He in the whirlwind of our lives?
Is He in the turmoil of our hearts?
Is He in the love we have for our children, our spouse, our closest
friend? Will we find Him in our jobs,
the pub, our Church, our best form of entertainment and distraction, etc? etc?
King David, the beloved of God Who called him, ‘a man after My own
heart’, is an example of one who wondered, “Where are You, Elohim?” Psalm 41,
depicts his strong yearning for God:
(vs. 1 & 2): “ As the hind longs for the running water, so my soul
longs for you, O God. Athirst is my soul
for God, the living God. When shall I go
and behold the face of God.” Psalm 63,
written in the wilderness of Judah, shows David’s yearning for his God: “O God, You are my God Whom I seek; for You,
my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and
without water.” Don’t we feel like that
at times? Where are You, God?
Does it seem that the wicked of the world get ahead, and that we
wonder why we, the faithful ones, have to work so hard to make ends meet? Isn’t it easier to go the ‘way of the
wicked’?
Is it? “For His sun rises on
the bad and the good, He rains on the just and the unjust.” ( Matthew 7, 44-45)
“Surely God is good to
Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had
almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I
envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
“This is what the wicked are
like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.” “I was senseless and
ignorant; I was a
brute beast before you.”
“Yet I am always with you; you
hold me by my right hand.” Psalm 73:1-3,12,22-23
Jeremiah 12;1B says, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?Why do all the
faithless live at ease?”
Many of us feel alone, that God is not answering, He is so far
away-Are we doing our part? Are we listening to the Lord? Are we obedient, are
we trusting? Do we reflect on God’s love for us, that He will never leave us or
forsake us, that He is our faithful God, loving us unconditionally? Are we like the disciples in the boat when a
storm arose and Jesus was fast asleep?
They awakened Jesus Who had to reprimand them for their lack of
faith! (Luke 8:24-25 ) Are we like Martha and Mary who hoped Jesus
had come earlier so that Lazarus, their brother, would not have died? Little did they know the best was yet to
come! “Lord, if You had been here, my
brother would not have died. Yet, I know that whatever You ask of God, He will
give You.” (John 11)
There are several examples in Scripture about people in need,
waiting on the Lord. Joseph, who had
been thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold into Egypt, was imprisoned
unjustly, served the Pharaoh
faithfully, did he cry out to the
Lord? If anyone could have said, “Where are You, God?”, it was Joseph! (Genesis 37)
What about Hannah, the prophet Samuel’s
mother? She cried out to the
Lord, imploring to have a baby, and God answered her prayer after much
travail. Did she say,
“Where are You, God?” ( 1
Samuel 1)
Our greatest example is the Lord Jesus Himself. When Jesus hung on the cross for our
salvation, He cried out to His Father, “My God!
My God! Why have You forsaken
Me?” Matthew 27:46 This is the most
desolate prayer ever spoken ! Jesus’
broken heart was deserted even by His Heavenly Father! And all this, for US! There was no one to comfort Him! And, all for us! Yet, the greatest miracle of all came! Jesus rose from the dead! He lives forever! We have eternal life! Yes! The best happened! Praise God!
When we reflect on these heroes and heroines of Scripture, and
particularly, the truth of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, we can also reflect
that our question, “”Where is God when I need Him?” is answered! He is always with us, beside us, inside us,
guiding His children, strengthening us, pleased that we have learned what He
wanted to teach us and fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives. He is a
loving, faithful God, Father of Our Lord Jesus, the Christ! Alleluia!
