Topic: When You Wonder Where God Is in Your Suffering – Daily Devotional by Proverbs 31 Ministries 23 September 2020

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When You Wonder Where God Is in Your Suffering

“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:8-10 (NIV)

We were heading home when the nurse called with news for my husband, Patrick. I was driving when he answered his cellphone. It was a quick exchange, but when I glanced over at him writing on a scrap of paper, I could see the word “cancer.”

It’s true that hearing the “C” word is like being punched in the stomach. I wanted to throw up. We both sat in silence. Although it is all a bit blurry to me, I do remember pulling into our driveway, the two of us crying and speechless. At some point, I hurriedly got out of the car and ran up the stairs to our bedroom.

It seemed like a safe place, even if that was just an illusion.

My entire body felt like a balloon someone had just sucked the air out of. I was in complete disbelief. Alone in our room, I Googled blood cancer and collapsed to the floor as I read the word “incurable.” I read it again. Incurable.

My thoughts raced. Or rather raged against me and inside of me.
I thought about sickness. Suffering. Death.
I thought about growing old alone.
I thought about our kids’ graduation.
Sons and daughters walking down the aisle one day, without their father.

This happens to other people. Not us. How could this be happening to our family?

Everyone’s pain is unique. I am certainly not an expert on suffering. But the worst pain of all, the darkest suffering, is when in the middle of our storm, even God feels far away. Distant. Uninvolved. And that is exactly how God felt to me.

Maybe you are in that place right now, feeling darkness and dryness — like God Himself has left you. Whatever you are facing, I first want to remind you that you are not alone in feeling alone. You are not the first person to walk through hardship and wonder whether God is for you or against you. This feeling is not a weakness or a sign of your lack of faith. Most importantly, I want to remind you that you are not alone because God IS there. Even when it seems like He isn’t.

As the psalmist reminds us in Psalm 139:8-10, there is nowhere we can go where God is not already present: “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Notice the psalmist uses the word “hand” twice. Once to tell us God is guiding us and the second time to tell us God is possessing us or seizing us (verse 10). He is leading us and holding us, even when we struggle to feel Him there.

As I faced my storm and the months went on, I did the only thing I knew to do. I stayed on my knees. I devoured Scripture. I wept. I prayed and worshipped as I waited for the season to pass. And it did — with the miraculous healing of my husband.

Not that long ago, I remember looking a friend full in the face as she declared she couldn’t find God in the middle of her suffering. I pleaded with her, “Don’t stop seeking Him. He is here.” I’d say the same to you today. What is more important than us feeling God is knowing and trusting that He has found us. He loves us. He is holding us. He is present with us. And He is faithful to get us through the storm, no matter what happens.

Heavenly Father, help me to know You are with me. Through the power of Your Spirit, draw me closer to You. Give me grace for one more breath, one more step, one more day. I want to know You, love You, and bring glory to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Hebrews 13:5, “… Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NIV)