Many years ago a friend asked me, “Where is God? Everything in my life is falling apart; my marriage, my family, my career, everything. I’ve done all that I should, too. I’ve worshipped every week, tithed every year, served whenever I could and more. Now, in my time of need it feels like God has abandoned me.”
Have you ever felt like that? Life is moving along swimmingly and then out of nowhere you’re slammed hard with a setback?
The Bible is full of stories about folks who’ve been hit hard by life. Sometimes it’s their own dumb behavior that makes it happen. For many, stuff just happens and they are left wondering, “Where is God?” The book of Job is a profound example of one who was holy and blameless yet suffered great loss.
In my office you will find a framed print of the words of the 139th Psalm. The poet is praying: “If I ascend to the highest heaven, God, you are there. If I descend into the darkest pit of Sheol – that is the place of death, hell – you are there also.” The promise is clear. God is present in the worst of times, the worst of places.
When I was a child I loved the story in the Bible of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were thrown into a fiery furnace because they refused to renounce their faith in God. The story says the fire was so hot that the men who threw the three heroic Jews into the fire died from the flames. After a few moments, the ones who were watching this happen were amazed to see that the fire had not consumed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were walking around in the fire. They sent a messenger to the king with this news: “Great King! The three we threw in have not been consumed and, in fact, there is a fourth walking with them. He appears to be a very Son of God.”
The great truth here is this: God does not promise that we will not face our trials by fire. God does not promise that we will get a free pass from all of the sorrow and pain that life can toss at us. God does promise that we will never walk alone, that we will never be abandoned to hell. God promises that the Christ, the son of the living God, the one who was crucified and buried, will also descend with us into whatever hell we face until we are brought to new life and new hope.
Grace and peace to you,
-Glen
