Where is god?

 As they abandoned their home surrendering it to the encroaching flames, the husband exclaimed, “Where is God!”, and the wife prayed. Listening to fire reports they knew the house they built by hand twenty years earlier was gone; the shock and not knowing what next began to set in, after all – they were no longer young and able to rebuild.

   There are lots of things that may be concerning us right now: fires, loss, COVID, racial tension, political division, isolation, air quality, distant learning, etc. So much to talk about; my goodness, where does one begin? Genesis states “In the beginning God…”, before the earth was – God was, before the fires – God was, before COVID – God was. On the positive side of our situation – there is God! He was with us before it began, he will be with us through it all, and with us on the other side of it; whatever the “it” is.

   A few days after the ravaging blaze moved through, my friends received a call from a Park Ranger they knew. The surrounding properties were destroyed, even the trees plus other items on their own land burned – the house remained untouched; the Ranger stated it looked like their home had been covered with a blanket. We celebrate the good news yet it leads to the question; why theirs and not others. Is it because they are a believer and the neighbors were not; but then why did other believers homes or a church burn instead of being spared? Some questions in our moment in history are a mystery.

   The song “Though You Slay Me” by Shane and Shane (can be found on YouTube), contains the lines:

“And though You slay me ­

Yet I will praise You

Though You take from me

I will bless Your Name”

“Though You ruin me

Still I will worship

Sing a song

To the One who’s all I need”

“Though tonight I’m crying out

Let this cup pass from me now

You’re still more than I need

You’re enough for me

You’re enough for me”

   Trying times reveal what is inside us, sometimes we like what we see, other times we don’t. When we don’t like what is seen it simply lets us know areas we need Holy Spirit to help us in.  

   Can we strive to, like other heroes of the faith throughout history, now in our present point in time – face what is before us with courage, steadfastness, in faith and surrender, giving worship and praise to God, who has allowed all the concerning matters before us? Can we say as we cry out for this cup to pass from us, nevertheless not my will but Yours’ O’ Lord – and mean it?

   In difficult times may we have strength equal to the challenge; may we find encouragement from Gods’ word, His promises and those around us. May we see from heavens’ perspective and dwell on things that are good.