“Where Is God When It Hurts?”

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

This past week in particular, many people have reached out to me because they are hurting.

“Where is God when it hurts?” has been a recurring theme for many brothers and sisters in the faith.

God never promised life as a Christian would be easy.  He never promised humans would not hurt us, or natural disasters would not happen.  Financial security or perfect health is not a given just because you become a Christian.

But, God did promise us many other things.  And God always, always, keeps His promises.  The promise I would love to examine today is His promise that He will never, ever leave us or forsake us. He will not abandon us, especially in our neediest hour.  He will not turn His back on us.  Conversely, God is there, in the midst of our pain, wrapping His faithful, fatherly arms around us.  When we hurt, He hurts.He wants to hold us, tell us all will be OK, and He wants us to believe it! He wants us to realize that we are with Him, and that is all that matters. He will attend to every other detail.

When we are hurting, it is difficult to trust.  Yet, we can trust God, always!  He is the one who will remain true to His promise. God will not ever leave you.  He will always care.  The things which trouble our hearts, trouble His. Just as things that hurt your loved ones hurt you.Trust Him, talk to Him. Let Him carry you through.

One of the songs by Group 1 Crew says, “I won’t give you more, more than you can take; and I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break.”  That is God, He has each of us, no matter what.  We determine how we will travel the journey.  Will we lean on Him, even when we can’t see the road to recovery?  Will we trust Him and man has violated our trust in the past? “Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28  We need to rest in Him,  knowing He never grows weary.

Please don’t use human rulers to measure the qualities of God.  Our devices just aren’t enough!  God is so much bigger, so much better, and yes, we can trust Him!

God will supply all our needs: including the emotional needs of love and understanding.  He will direct a dear friend to call at just the right moment.  He will cause you to turn on the radio for the perfect song to sing to your heart. Or He will whisper those words you desperately needed to hear in a Bible passage you “stumbled” upon.

As I am praying for all those hurting, I have had moments when my heart feels lighter. Each one of us will get through whatever it is which is troubling our hearts. After I spent time in prayer, I “found” a song I had not heard in a long time.

That song served as a perfect reminder to me that not only in all the events in my life, and yours, but also in all the events of history: GOD IS THERE.

He sees all.

He knows all.

And, when we ask, He guides us all.

We can not possibly know everything, but He does. And He promises to use it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly; He will use for good. (Romans 8:28)

God loves you and cares for you more than you can imagine.  He is there.

Please click here to hear the song which touched my heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl93PvJuRzM

For further comfort and reflection:

Footprints:   http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/index.php?page=Poem/Poem.php

Reflections:

1) How do I respond to painful events in my life?

2) How does God call me to respond to painful situations? (Suggested starting places: John 13:34, Psalm 4:4, Ephesians 4:26)

3) How can I help those who are hurting?

4) How should I pray for those who are hurting?

5) This Friday, January 18, between 7 am and 5 pm, wherever you are, please pray specifically for all those who are hurting.  Pray for people you know, people who don’t, countries in crisis and parents in predicaments.  Pray for our leaders, both local and national. Pray for our leaders in our communities, our schools, our churches, and our families. Wherever you are, please pray!