Where is God in all of this?

I’ve felt lost, broken and in despair at times as a result of so many life experiences that can hit any of us so hard.  Nobody prepares us for the shock that can knock us sideways.  And as a faithful Christian, it’s not unusual to ask ‘where is God in all of this?’ ‘How can God allow me to suffer like this?’  In my Wednesday evening homegroup we are currently following Pete Greig’s Prayer Course II based on his book ‘God on Mute’ and Pete often highlights the struggles his family have faced with his wife’s serious life long illness, opening up in a heartfelt and honest way about how his faith has been questioned at various times.

We know our God doesn’t want us to suffer but yet we know bad things happen to us.  Our lives are marred by sin. But remembering the suffering of Jesus on the Cross and the sacrifice he made for us, we must follow the example of Jesus. Suffering with grace and mercy to the Lord.  To be humble.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus showed us the right way to suffer.  To give our pain to the Lord, forgive those who hurt us and conquer any temptation to become bitter in any way.  To face up to our struggles and to trust in God and ask Him to step in when we need Him.  God enriches our character, strengthens faith and teaches more about Christ through our difficulties.  Through our weaknesses, we are made strong.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

So where is God in all of our difficulties?  He is right beside us, waiting for us to reach out our arms to Him.  Asking us to give up any pride or self-control and to submit to Him.  God has a plan for us, ‘a plan to prosper us and not to harm us, plans for hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11