Where is GOD when it hurts?
Faith Believers,
We want to know the answer to this question most when faced with painful trials and attacks of doubt. Even Jesus, during His crucifixion, asked, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (see Matthew 27:46). To the onlookers of that time, as well as to those who first read the story, it seems that God did forsake Jesus, so we obviously conclude that He will forsake us as well, in our darkest moments. Yet, upon continued observation of the events that unfolded after the crucifixion, the truth is revealed that nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even death (see Romans 8:37-39).
After Jesus was crucified, He was glorified (see 1 Peter 1:21 ; Mark 16:6, 19 ; Romans 4:24-25). From this example alone we can be assured that even when we do not feel God's presence in the midst of our pain, we can still believe His promise - that He will never leave us nor forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5). "God sometimes permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves" - Joni Erickson Tada.
We put our trust in the fact that God does not lie, He never changes, and His Word stands true forever (see Numbers 23:19 ; 1 Samuel 15:29 ; Psalm 110:4 ; Malachi 3:6 ; Hebrews 7:21 ; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17 ; and 1 Peter 1:25). We do not lose heart over painful circumstances because we live by faith in every Word that has proceeded from the mouth of God, not putting our hope in what is seen or perceived. We trust God, that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us, an eternal glory that far outweighs all the suffering that we will endure on this earth.
So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, because we know and believe that what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (see 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and 5:7). We also trust God's Word, which says He is constantly working things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28). Even though we do not always see the good ends to which God is working things out, we can be assured that a time will come when we will understand and see more clearly.
Our lives are like a quilt. If you look at the back side of a quilt, all you see is a mess of knots and loose ends hanging out all over. It is very unattractive, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the work. Yet when you turn the quilt over, you see how the maker has craftily woven together each strand to form a beautiful creation, much like the life of a believer (see Isaiah 64:8). We live with a limited understanding of the things of God, yet a day is coming when we will know and understand all things (see Job 37:5 ; Isaiah 40:28 ; Ecclesiastes 11:5 ; 1 Corinthians 13:12 ; 1 John 3:2).
Where is God when it hurts?
The message to take with you in hard times is that when you cannot see His hand, trust His heart, and know for certain that He has not forsaken you. When you seem to have no strength of your own, that is when you can most fully rest in His presence and know that His strength is made perfect in your weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
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