Are You There, God?

Gripping the podium, I stood before The Bridge teens, “It’s likely the darkest days in your life are yet to come. The time you spend learning about God’s character now, will anchor you in truth on the days when you cannot see any light.” I told them, as we read through Genesis 1-3, the attributes of God that were most evident to me are God’s transcendence and immanence. “We need to know God is bigger than our circumstances, yet not far off. He’s with us in our sorrow.” 

It was January 22. 

The Lord already knew that on January 26, I’d find myself mere yards from where I now stood, lying in a cold parking lot with a severely injured leg. 

“What situations tempt you to believe God’s posture to you is not one of kindness? When are you tempted to believe God isn’t good?” I asked them. 

I try not to dwell on the accumulated losses my family has experienced over the past several years. Grief can take you out, but I’ve found that without ever touching a bottle to your lips, it’s possible to move through life fast enough and scroll long enough, to drown your sorrows. And so, over the past four months, it’s not merely my loss of mobility I’ve mourned. Endless hours provided countless opportunities to remind the Lord of every tear I’ve cried. 

Are you there, God? Do you care, God? Why, God? I can’t, God. It’s too much. It hurts too badly. I can’t endure this. What if? Why now? What next? Why me? 

In many ways God is incomprehensible to our finite minds. Even so, he has chosen to reveal himself to us through his word, in his Son, and by the Spirit. In some mysterious way, God is able, and always does, work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, IN ALL THINGS. 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I have not seen him, but I love him. 

I love him because he sees me. He holds me. He was and is always with me. He is both transcendent over every circumstance in my life, and immanent-closer than a breath. I don’t see him now, but I believe in him, and am filled with joy. He is for me. 

God, you are for me. You taught me these lessons in the dark and I will proclaim them in the light. 

Therefore I will not lose heart. 

We will not lose heart. 

“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

As we study 1 Peter over the coming months, listen to what Peter tells us about God. This letter from an Apostle who once denied Jesus out of fear of suffering, and addressed to a Church beset by persecution, has much to teach us. Friends, there are just some aspects of God’s character we experience most profoundly in the dark. 

Don’t be afraid. 

Natalie

(If you're a parent looking for resources to teach your kids about God's character, register for a Summer Challenge kit at https://thebridgealton.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2946995

If you find yourself experiencing an extended season of sorrow, or doubts about God, we offer a Grief Group, and an upcoming study on Disappointment with God. More info can be found on Church Center.)