Where Is God?

03-08-2022

“As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?” I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival. Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

I am depressed, so I will pray to you while I am trapped here in the region of the upper Jordan,

from Hermon, from Mount Mizar. One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me. By day the Lord decrees his loyal love,

and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the living God. I will pray to God, my high ridge: “Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?”

My enemies’ taunts cut into me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God!

For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

Psalm 42 (NET)

In the midst of all that is happening around the world currently it is somewhat surprising that we have not heard anyone asking, “Where is God in all of this?” After all, where is God?

We cannot see him in the videos coming from Sumy where Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says, “They’re turning Sumy into hell.” We do not see him in the Drug Wars of Mexico where upwards of 250,000 people have been killed. We do not hear him speaking out against the civil war in Syria where over 590,000 people have been wiped off the earth.

But, even as we do not “see” or “hear” God, does that mean he is not among us?

Oswald Chambers writes something in his invaluable work, “My Utmost for His Highest” that speaks toward this issue. He writes, “No one is ever united with Jesus Christ until they are willing to relinquish not sin only, but their whole way of looking at things.”

How do you look at the world? The events of the world? We hear a lot of people complaining about rising prices for food, gas, utilities, etc. However, what if those same people were living in Ukraine, walking away from their homes, separated from loved ones, with no water and no food - while gunfire was being aimed at them and shells were loudly exploding all around? Their whole way of looking at things…would be vastly different.

When things are going well, gas is 1.50 a gallon and you don’t have to wear a mask everywhere, we usually believe God is right there. Shoot, he must be in love with us for he is blessing us so!

It’s only when things and people are against us - when times are difficult - that we begin uttering those supposedly blasphemous words, “Where is God?” But, are those not virtually the same words the Son of God yelled while hanging hopelessly on the cross? “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” In other words, “Where are you God?”

We like to think, in our limited way, that when things are tough God must not be in our midst. He must have just left us on our own without so much as a “Good luck!”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Consider the following true story. A long time ago, near Niagara, New York, a tribe of North American Indians resided in relative peace and prosperity. Once a year, in order to maintain the status quo, the tribe would choose a young virgin to serve as the tribe’s sacrifice to the spirit of the Mighty River. She was called, “The Bride of the Falls.”

One year, the chief’s daughter was chosen. In the days which followed he went about as if nothing was going to happen. On the day of the sacrifice the tribe prepared the white canoe and filled it with fresh fruit, vegetables, and beautiful flowers. The young girl placed herself in the middle of the canoe which was then launched out into the middle of the river.

It was at this precise moment when a second canoe came rushing from the bank. In it was the chief - the young girl’s father. He plowed through the waters putting his back into the oars and in a very few, quick, strong strokes he made it to his daughter.

Reaching her, the chief grabbed hold of her canoe and brought his alongside hers. Then, holding her canoe close to his, the father and daughter were swept along the mighty current and over the falls. They perished side by side. The father would not let go…

And so it is with our heavenly Father. When we think we are alone, we are not. When we feel as if there is no one else, there is. At the moment we believe we are entering “the dark night of the soul” all on our own, He is there. “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.”

Friends, consider the following words of Yahweh as he reminds us of his constant presence.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 – “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Isaiah 41:17 – “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”

Psalms 37:28 – “For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.”

Isaiah 42:16 – “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”

The truth is this, as C.S Lewis, in his book "Miracles" writes, "The presence of God is the most real thing we ever encounter." May the reality of God be your reality today…and may God hold the hands of those women, children, and elderly who are leaving Ukraine, and may he stand strong by those who remain behind to protect and serve the land and people they love.

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down Here Somewhere

 

If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. - John 15:10-12.

A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers. Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy! - Psalm 126:1-3

According to Reuters News Service reporter Ciara Lee, “Toymaker Lego doubled its earnings over the first six months of the year as customers flocked to its reopened stores to buy Star Wars building sets and flower bouquets made from its colourful plastic bricks.”

The main protagonists in this increased volume in sales? Adults. Part of the increase is due to the Fox TV series: Lego Masters. Yes, there is a popular, fun and entertaining television series about people building incredible scenes simply out of “bricks” - hip lingo for Lego pieces.

Before you discard the first two paragraphs and look at it as silly - “People should grow up and act like adults!” - might we remind you that Jesus came to bring us joy? JOY! Laughter! Happiness! Yes, Christians should be invaded and overwhelmed by JOY!

Joy is a beautiful word. Yet, what does it mean? In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is שִׂמְחָה - simchah. It is translated as the following: delight, exceeding joy, festival, gladness, happiness, joy, mirth, pleasure, rejoice, rejoicing. In the New Testament, the Greek term is χαρά - chara. It means: extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed – properly speaking it refers to being aware of/recognizing God's grace, favor; joy.

Joy is a foundational gift of the Lord for his people. What do we mean by that? Joy is not based on how you feel nor is it dependent upon the situation you find yourself in. Joy is a gift to be received, utilized and employed in your life. There is enough complaining, criticizing, griping and grumbling in the world already! AND IT SHOULD NEVER BE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST!

Remember what happened in Numbers 11? If not, allow us to refresh your memory. After all the miracles the children of Israel had seen God do in Egypt, including the parting of the Red Sea so that they could walk through on dry land and then swallow their enemies whole, they still complained so bitterly that God heard a constant rumbling from their encampment in the wilderness. Probably not what their Savior wanted to hear by the way…nor does ours.

The Isrealites complained about food and water. When they had manna from heaven, they complained they had no meat. They grumbled and rebelled against Moses’ leadership. Aaron and Miriam, Moses’ siblings, complained about Zipporah, Moses’ wife. The people even complained about God’s judgment that resulted from their complaints! Sound familiar?

There was a conference at a Presbyterian church. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them during the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. When it was over 1/3 of the balloons were unreleased. (Bruce Larson, Luke, p. 43.) That is the epitome of what is at the heart of so many Christians. No joy. And that, our friends, is sad.

Since Jesus came to bring us joy and to complete our joy, we should take a closer look at that gift. Perhaps you are encountering rough waters presently. Maybe your life is not what you hoped it would be. The case may be that everything in your life is topsy-turvy and everyone seems to have abandoned you. But remember - that is one point of view. Yours.

Dr. R.B. Ouellette tells of a Russian countess who believed in Jesus as her Saviour and was open about her testimony. The Tsar was displeased and threw her into prison. After 24 hours with the lowest level of Russian society, in the most miserable conditions imaginable, he ordered her brought into his presence. He smiled sardonically and said, “Well, are you ready now to renounce your silly faith and come back to the pleasures of the court?”

To his surprise, the countess smiled serenely and said, “I have known more real joy and more real happiness in one day in prison with Jesus than I have known in a lifetime in the courts of the Tsar.” Where you are at or how you feel never dictate the presence or absence of joy.

Where does your joy come from? Or, rather, for some, what is the cause of your lack of joy? And, no, you cannot blame others. If Jesus gave you his joy then no one - and we repeat - no one is able to take it away. The only person who can take it away is the person who received it. You. Blame solely rests upon the recipient who rather than unwrapping and enjoying this free gift, complains about the wrapping paper, all the tape around it, the size of the box, and then tosses it aside to find another present more to their liking. Only you can reject or receive the Lord’s joy.

God’s word reminds us that “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” Nehemiah 8:10. If you are feeling weak, helpless, hopeless, discouraged, sorrowful, or miserable, might we offer a three letter word to lift you up, fill you with hope, to cheer and comfort you? JOY!

A final thought from the prophet Zephaniah, where one of our favorite verses in scripture found in chapter 3 says: “Cheer up...! Don’t be afraid! For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” If that doesn’t fill you with joy, nothing will! Now, go take some Legos from your kids, have some fun and build something.

Steve and Missy

09/28/2021