Faith & Reflection
“Where was God when I needed him?” This question has been asked of me more than occasionally. It is typically asked during a time of crisis, trial or hardship.
The answer is quite simple. God is omnipresent meaning He is present in all places at all times. Scripture solidly supports this.
So this theological statement plus perhaps some hackneyed quote or a Christian poem should pretty much cover all the bases...right?
Probably not. When people ask where God is during trying times and difficult circumstances they are not looking for a theological dissertation, a touching poem or an overworked cliché. Hurting people are not in a theological or poetic frame of mind, but an emotional and painful one.
They are experiencing thoughts and emotions similar to that of Isaiah when he wrote, “Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself...” (Isaiah 45:15).
To properly answer the question people must first learn how to separate emotional feelings from established facts. Emotions are great servants but terrible masters! With emotions in the driver’s seat it will always be a roller coaster ride...sometimes a wild one!
One fact is that this feeling of spiritual abandonment is a commonplace one. Not that misery necessarily needs company, but humans do need a point of identification.
King David, who usually enjoyed a close, personal relationship with God, at one point said, “You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths” (Psalm 88:6). Obviously pessimistic emotional sentiments are not exclusive to us.
Feelings will suggest that things will never improve. Facts indicate that this sense of abandonment is a temporary experience.
Peter shared that suffering grief in all sorts of trials would be, “...for a little while...” (1 Peter 1:6) indicating that the distress will end (though not necessarily in our desired time-frame).
Another recognized, time-honored fact is that difficult times can be purposeful. Through them we learn about patience, prayer, sensitivity towards others experiencing difficulties and reliance upon God. Peter, in the verse following the one quoted above stated, “trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold...” (1 Peter 1:7).
With an understanding of these facts in place, it is more acceptable to point out God’s omnipresence and share promises such as, “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you...When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. For I am the Lord your God” (Isaiah 43:2,3).
Where is God when I need him? “...He is not far from any of us...” (Acts 17:27)