Where is God in Challenging Times?

Several years ago, I found myself inconsolable and trying to understand why my cousin's life was taken in a car accident.

He was an oldest son, a brother, husband, father, cousin and friend to many.

What confused me the most is that he had recently begun to preach. He was a great guy who was on the front lines of spiritual warfare, preaching the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I could not understand why God would allow my cousin, of all people, in the prime of his life, to be suddenly taken away from his family.

For months I cried and prayed and prayed and cried, asking God why.

Then one beautiful day, as I walked through the park, talking to God with tears in my eyes, He answered me...

How did God answer me?

He did not speak with a thunderous voice from heaven.

He did not use a squirrel to talk to me like He did with Balaam and the donkey (Numbers 22:21-39).

In fact, I heard no voice at all.

• So then, how did God answer me?

God is Spirit (John 4:24).

When we believe in Jesus for salvation we receive His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, which dwells in us (Ephesians 1:13).

Therefore, we do not need to hear a voice to communicate with our Father in heaven.

He downloads and uploads answers, revelation, wisdom, and understanding to our spirit by His Spirit.

The IT department can download information to your computer at work because you are connected to the company’s network.

Because I am connected to God by His Spirit, He downloads information to my spirit.

The information He downloaded on that day revealed the following:

• “You do not ask 'why' when you enjoy the sun and breeze I provide on a beautiful day. You do not question Me when I bless you with good things. Why did you not ask 'why' when I gave your cousin his life, family, and the gift to preach? He is mine, not yours. Why do you only ask 'why' when the outcome is not what you want?”

That was God’s answer to me that day and it changed my perspective on remaining in a perpetual state of “Why?”

I realized that when ‘why’ is in focus ‘His goodness’ is out of focus.

God was telling me to climb out of the rabbit hole of why and stand on the higher plain that overlooks His goodness.

Photo, taken by me, of a section in the park

where God answered my question

God is always there and He is continuously good

God promised His children, in Hebrews 13:5, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. That means that He is with us in the good and the bad.

• He is with us if we receive the job promotion or if we get laid off.

Good and bad, from a human perspective, does not change the spiritual perspective of God always being with us and also being continuously good.

Even in death, He is with us and good. How do we know this? 2 Corinthians 5:8...

• "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

If God is always there and continuously good, why did my cousin pass away so young in a car accident?

Josiah was considered one of the greatest kings of Judah. He was God fearing and well beloved by the people.

At the height of his kingdom, at the tender age of 39 years old, he was tragically killed in what appeared to be a pointless battle against Necho king of Egypt.

All of Judah and Jerusalem mourned Josiah's death.

• 2 Chronicles 35:25 says, "Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments.These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments."

A closer look at Josiah’s 39 years on earth reveals that he had an amazing purpose that included bringing spiritual revival to Judah and Jerusalem.

God's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways

Our minds naturally want to detach a good God from a loved one passing away, which makes perfect sense from a logical human standpoint.

The problem with that perspective is God does not have a human mind:

• “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9

An example of our thoughts: We want to live to be 120 years old (wealthy and without problems), then pass away in our sleep, gently swaying in a hammock, on a warm day in Spring, with the hymnal “It Is Well” playing in the background.

What are God’s thoughts?

God said that we all have an appointment to die (Hebrews 9:27). He gives no promises on how it will happen, the age, or all the details in-between.

• He does, however, tell us to live out our purpose (Luke 19:11-27) and to remain ready for the end of this life because no one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36; Revelation 22:12-20).

My cousin was ready.

He put his faith and trust in Jesus for salvation (John 3:16; John 14:6) and remained in Him.

In that I rejoice.

Even if I did not know whether or not he was saved, I yet rejoice in the goodness of God through his life.

• All the people who were positively impacted by his purpose here on earth is God’s goodness.
  

• God providing for his family, while he was here, is God’s goodness.

• God continuing to provide for his family, and his son being a preacher (following in his dad’s footsteps) is God’s goodness.   

Hallelujah, praise the Lord.

A New Perspective

Now, whenever I think of my cousin I remember God’s message to me in the park. I will not know all the details or always understand His plan.

What I do know is this:

• Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

My cousin was a good and perfect gift from God to us. He lived out his purpose and was a channel for God’s goodness.

And for this I give You praise.

Conclusion

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18

Jesus' relative, John the Baptist, was also tragically killed in the prime of life.

(Matthew 14:12-13; Luke 1:36).

• Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses having been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15).

• Now He is in heaven with the Father advocating on behalf of all those who have put their faith and trust in Him for salvation (1 John 2:1).

That is why, with confidence, we can go to God in our darkest hours so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Let us hold onto our faith knowing that, even in life's challenges and uncertainties, God cares, He is always there, and He is continuously good.

May the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you.