Where is God When it Hurts

Where is God When it Hurts?

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, "Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?"

He replied, "An enemy has done this." [Matthew 13:24-28]

We meet today because of evil. Evil is alive and well on planet earth.

How shall we handle the problem of evil?

Do we need more laws? We already have a law which applies completely: "Thou shalt not kill."

Do we need more swords?

Our Lord told Peter, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." [Matthew 26:52]

Do we need more education? Our society is already one of the best educated, and one of the most violent.

We have many important questions, and we don't have enough good answers.

Our clinic is often a place of joy. We see people who have come to us sick or injured, leave our care with greater health and strength. But we also see people who don't get well, whose suffering ends only in death. We believe in a good and friendly God, who has all the power of the universe.

Perhaps the best we can say, is "An enemy has done this."

Ever since sin entered this world, it has become a dangerous place—full of viruses, typhoons, drunk drivers, and killers! It is one of the bad things about evil, that the innocent suffer too!

Meanwhile, did God ever promise that his followers would be free from suffering? Certainly the apostle Paul was one of God's most faithful followers. But he tells us that five times he was whipped—39 strokes each time. Three times he was beaten with rods; once he was stoned. Three times he was shipwrecked. A night and a day he spent adrift in the sea. He experienced toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, cold and exposure. [2 Corinthians 11: 24-28].

Yet Paul could say, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." [Phillipians 4: 11-13].

In answer to our question, "Where is God when it hurts?" we may ask another question: "Where was God when Jesus was hurting?" For we believe that Jesus, our Savior, is also our God.

Our God, who lived here among us, was Himself hungry, thirsty, and in pain. He who was tortured, and who died for us, knows the suffering we face in this world of sin. He who sees the sparrow fall is acquainted with our griefs. He who understands better than we, the tragedy of sin, feels it infinitely more than we do. He is present at the bedside of every sufferer. He offers strength and courage to face every tragedy. He is powerful, versatile, and good. He can be counted upon, if we permit, to transform every tragedy into something better, and ultimately, to heal us completely and fit us for a better land.

Near the end of his life, the apostle John reports, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new!"

Until then, we don't need to believe that everything is good. We know better. We have come face to face with evil. But truly in all things, "God works for good." We can safely trust in Him.