FIRMLY PLANTED â—½ ENCOURAGEMENT
Where is God?
by Dina Cavazos
Do you sometimes ask the question Where is God?
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I do.
When tragedy happens, when people hurt through no fault of their own, when I hear of the evil things going on in the world…I ask Where are you God? I never ask when something good happens. When something good happens I thank him and go on, expectant for the next good thing, hoping no evil befalls me or mine. But at my core, I know that my foundation needs to be strong enough to bear the weight of tribulation.
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Recent tragic events stirred up some sobering questions: Do I expect that only good things should come my way? Do I believe that God is only in the good times and not the bad? Do I believe that he “lets” bad things happen and is indifferent to pain? Why doesn’t he stop bad things from happening? These questions I wrestle with from time to time. Even though I believe God is good, has a plan, and I can, ultimately, trust him, the answers to these unsettling questions are never crystal clear. They reside in the nebulous territory into which I “look through a glass darkly” But sometimes I get a glimpse of the other side--a flash of insight or understanding, a metaphoric moment that answers all questions at once.
With these questions hovering over me,
in one moment of stooping over with a small raking tool in hand,
I saw it.
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The aftermath of heavy rains requires some garden clean-up. A few low spots, mostly along the granite path, collect water. It drains off quickly but leaves a mess behind. Whirls of debris such as leaves, sticks, and birdseed shells are strewn across the path or pile up against rocks, edging, and anything that acts as a barrier. With rakes large and small, I gather up the debris and scoop it into a container. Stoop, scoop, repeat.
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A few days ago I spent some time doing this. The worship music I was listening to stirred my spirit and brought me close. My body was working, but my mind and heart were asking the questions…Why? Where are you in this? Unexpectedly, inexplicably, as my hand reached out with a small rake, I saw my hand as God’s hand.
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God is in the midst. He doesn’t cause tragedy any more than I caused the heavy rain to wreak havoc in my garden. He is working to restore order and beauty, just as I am. He is healing where there is brokenness, just as I walk about picking things up and setting things right. I love my garden and care about every broken stem, every wilting flower, through highs and lows, in every season. So it is with God.
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It’s difficult to see, especially when my heart is hurting and my mind is reeling. And when I can’t see, it’s hard to believe. That’s why I keep pressing into Jesus, pursuing connection. Because one moment, one glimpse, restores my faith that he’s got me, and all my cares, in his hand. Among the many mysteries of the Christian faith, is the risen, very present Jesus who said In this world you will have tribulation, but I have overcome the world and will never leave you or forsake you,
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I pray for all suffering pain and loss, that the loving presence of the God of all comfort will unexpectedly, inexplicably surround you as you press in to him.