“There is a God who made the world... Where was He when mine came crashing down?”
If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have probably experienced times like these…when you’ve questioned God’s love, presence, help and power in the midst of the storm. In the midst of the darkness, the grief , the trauma, the pain, the fear, the _____ (you name it).
I know I have. Many times.
And some of these times dragged on for days, then weeks, into years. Dark times for sure. You have been there. I have been there. And we will be there again.
Interestingly, I am presently reading through the Old Testament, currently in the book of Numbers, where a pattern is beginning to emerge. For some reason God had it stand out to me this morning…
Life for the people of God doesn’t seem very easy. They went through the ‘desert’, the ‘valley’ and ‘wasteland’ (Numbers 21:18–20).
This could be seen as a picture of life’s trials; dry patches, low spots and seeming fruitlessness. It also could be seen as a picture of seasons of overwhelm, grief, trauma, anxiety, even bitterness.
Ewww…even to type those words bring back vivid personal memories…sights, sounds, feelings, numbness…that reeked havoc on my heart, mind and body…for days and days and days…
Again, I was brought back to my reading in Numbers. The people of Israel, the chosen (special) people of God none-the-less, didn’t spend their days having fun playing in the sunshine.
There were difficulties everywhere; hunger and thirst, aggressive neighbors, and environments that took their toll on their patience. Oddly enough, I was actually encouraged to read of a difficulty they and I actually have in common:
4They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Numbers 21:4-5 (NIV)
Irksome difficulties. Heart-wrenching difficulties. Shockingly traumatic difficulties. They come. And come again. God doesn’t seem to take the difficulties away, not in their entirety that is, but he does help us come through them.
Every single time. I can testify to this.
But at the same time, I can also testify that though He has always helped me through these difficult times, it did not make my difficult times less painful, less weighty, less exhausting, less numbing, less depressing…
So what is the point here?
Perhaps we should restate this question to be, “So what is His point here?”
“There is a God who created the world... Where was He when mine came crashing down?”
Here is the answer…it will surprise you…
God’s answer came through a text from dear friend of mine who is presently going through a very painful, grief-stricken time in her precious life. She has such an honest heart to ask hard questions like this and my walk with God and my trust in His Word has deepened just by the privilege I have to sit, listen, cry and walk alongside this hurting heart. She and I have been bearing our raw hearts before God lately by laying out all our honest feelings, thoughts, questions, doubts, hopes and asking God, expecting God actually, to speak His Truth into these as He promises.
7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
My friend's text only consisted of a simple link to a song.
A song, which if you want the answer to the question, “If there is a God who created the world, where was he when my world came crashing down?”, then I invite you to let this song wash over you as you let God and His Truth speak into your present difficulty.
And be real and raw in your asking, seeking, knocking…
Watch it now...
