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“WHERE IS GOD IN OUR TROUBLES?”
WHERE IS GOD IN OUR TROUBLES?
Garland M. Robinson
The day began very early. Two hundred miles would be driven to a lonely hospital room where a dying man would, in just a few hours, breathe his last. A smile and a tear came across the faces of both father and son as their eyes met. As the tragic event of death was nearing, I sat and held my father’s hand for hours as I saw the life slipping from his tired and worn out frame. I would be holding that same hand the next day as he breathed his last sigh and as the warmth gently left his body. How many of you have endured such pain, such trouble, such loss? Is there anyone who hasn’t?
Where is God in our troubles?
Where is God when a husband and wife pull from each other in what is often called “irreconcilable differences?”
Where is God when there is pain and suffering?
Where is God when little children are caught in the cross- fire of reckless, senseless and wicked deeds?
Where is God when millions of innocent babies are ripped from their mother’s wombs every year in that horrifying despair called “a woman’s right to choose?”
Where is God when brethren set themselves on a course of destruction to their own souls and faithful brethren can’t stop it?
Where is God when brethren divide in spite of all the prayers and pleas of peacemakers?
Where is God when congregations fall apart and split?
Where is God when faithful preachers proclaim the whole counsel of God and evil men and seducers wax worse and worse?
God is where he’s always been. He hasn’t moved. He knows, He cares. He is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
The story is told of the old farmer and his wife driving down a country road when his wife speaks up and says. “You know, when we were young, we used to sit together as we traveled. Now, you sit on your side and I sit on mine. Why is that?” The old farmer lovingly looks over at her and says, “I haven’t moved. I’m still behind the wheel where I’ve always been.”
It’s easy to grow apart isn’t it? It can happen without us ever realizing it.
Where is God in our troubles?
GOD IS IN HEAVEN
God has not moved. He is where he has always been. He watches. He knows. He cares. We are the ones who have moved away.
In Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple, he ask God’s blessing upon them and ask that God hear from his dwelling place in heaven (1 Kings 8:30,39,43,49; 2 Chron. 6:21,30, 33,39; 2 Chron. 30:27). The Psalmist declared: “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven...” (Psa. 11:4; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49)? Habakkuk 2:20 declares, “the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” From heaven, He looks upon men to see if there are any that understand and seek him (Psa. 53:2).
Jesus tells us that God the Father is in heaven. It is the place of his throne (Matt. 5:34; 23:22). Jesus said, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven...” (Luke 11:2). God cares, Oh, how he cares!
GOD IS IN THE WORLD
“The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psa. 103:19).
God has his finger on the pulse of the world. God rules over all the kingdoms of men. This very pointed and grave lesson was taught to king Nebuchadnezzar because of his pride and arrogance. God would send him to the very depths of despair and teach him a lesson. He would learn that God rules over all. In the book of Daniel, three verses show us that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Dan. 4:17,25,32). Oh, how this lesson needs to be learned in the world today!
God cares about what goes on. He is there and knows about our troubles. However, He will not help unless we turn to him in obedience according to his will.
GOD IS IN THE CHURCH
God’s eternal plan was fulfilled in the church of Christ. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:9-11).
Since God has taken such great care through the ages in watching over his word to perform it (cf. Jer. 1:12), shall he not care about it now? Has God lost his interest in us? Does he not care what happens to his saints? Of course God cares!
Paul writes by inspiration, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35-39).
GOD IS IN OUR HEARTS
“...If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23).
Though God lives within us, we often feel alone in times of trouble. But, we must always keep in mind that “if God be for us, who can be against us” (Rom. 8:31)? Even then, our heart is many times heavy with burdens. But in such times, we must also remember that “...if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20). If we continue faithful, God will provide.
