It’s a question asked by many in all kinds of circumstances, “Where is God?” It can be a global situation, a national crisis or one’s personal condition, but there are times in many people’s lives where their understanding of God is confronted with a harsh reality they believe doesn’t line up with what Scripture teach, or what they personally believe about the will of God. In such times as these, the question is often asked, “Where is God in all this?”
The answer is, “He is where He has always been.” He is on His throne, reigning over the world, seeing His will is fulfilled, preparing us for eternity. It is true that many people are drawn to God and recognize His authority in difficult times, but there are also those who are shaken in their faith by the trials of life. It’s a matter of our understanding of Scripture and our trust in what it reveals about Him to us.
You see, while God is love, all have sinned, and we must deal with the consequences this brings to life. The “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and its effects in our lives are harsh and cruel. Just as Adam and Eve were warned what would happen if they disobeyed God, so it is still true today. While sin can shake us to the very core of our existence, it is the reality that comes with allowing the devil to play his part in our lives, in our world. The marvel of it all is that God is still blessing us even in the midst of sin. He is our Creator and Sustainer (Colossians 1:17); we belong to Him (2 Corinthians 6:16), and He alone is infinite in power and understanding (Isaiah 43:11-13). He knows what is best, and His will, His purposes, whether globally or individually, are based on His nature as Deity, which includes not only His love but His righteousness, holiness and truth.
We don’t see life from God’s perspective. We can only see things from our limited view of today, not the complete picture He as the Alpha and Omega sees (Revelation 1:8). While He offers us His great and magnificent promises (2 Peter 1:4), we must consider them all, not just those we desire. He promises to provide for us, and He does in so many ways, but that doesn’t negate that we all will die until the Lord returns (Hebrews 9:27). It is easy to question why a loved one passes, but we can also consider those prophets of old who died horrible deaths in their service to God (Hebrews 11:36-38). As the created, we cannot possibly understand all there is as does God, Who is eternal and sees all of history, not just the small snippets we as finite beings can perceive.
While the secret things belong to God (Deuteronomy 29:29), He does reveal to us that, if our lives have been cleansed through the blood of Christ and if we live faithful lives for Him, there is an eternity awaiting us where the troubles of today will be gone. Heaven more than makes up for the trials of life, and by the grace of God, we will be done with the sorrows of today, forever (Romans 8:18). Our view of life must include eternity if today is to make any sense to us at all. Everything lost due to our sins, or the sins of others, will be restored in Heaven; not all earthy troubles are the result of individual sin. There is chaos in the world, but there is peace in Christ. There is suffering in the world, but there is joy in Christ. Today, there is a lack of remembrance of those gone on, but we will never be forgotten in God’s presence, as His honor, remembrance will be unending.
I certainly don’t have all the answers to life’s problems, but I do know our trust must be in God, Who sees, knows and understands. The same Jesus who wept at the loss of Lazarus will welcome us into His glorious presence (John 11:35, 25-26). The same Jesus who longed to gather Jerusalem to Himself (Matthew 23:37) will come back to receive us (John 14:3). This world will be filled with sin and its consequences until it is destroyed at the Lord’s return (2 Peter 3:12), but heaven will know none of that which is sinful, only God’s blessings. In a world filled with sin and its consequences, don’t let go of God or His promises. There is unfathomable sadness and suffering today, but we live for our Lord’s return (Titus 2:13). Won’t it be wonderful there?
