Where was God?

“Where was God when I called to Him, and… happened anyway?” This is the big one, the zinger, the one thing most Christians hope to never be asked. Ask us about the resurrection, the Trinity, predestination; but, don’t ask us to explain why a God we claim loves you, wouldn’t answer you when you cried out for His help. That one is too hard.

I know that’s what Christians think because I’ve been there. I am a Christian who has been asked that very question. I remember the feeling of butterflies, the intense desire to say something profound, to provide a simple but life altering answer to such a complex question. Then, when nothing profound came to me, I hoped for some relief; I hoped for someone to step in and save me the embarrassment I was about to make of myself. My mind raced, but in the end all I managed to get out was something like “I don’t know, but I know He heard you”. As you can imagine, my answer brought more frustration to my friend then a sense of comfort or understanding. In fact, they would have had every right to call me an idiot for trying to act like I had the answer to something I clearly had no grasp of. The truth is- it was the best answer I could give to a question I had found myself asking numerous times before.

 “Where was God when I prayed and my mother still died of cancer?”, “Where was God when I was molested as a little girl?”, “Where was God when my wife died protecting innocent children at the Newtown shooting?”  None of these inquiries are astonishing or asked without valid reason.  They are very real demands to very real tragedies. They resemble questions most everyone has asked, even if only in their heart, at one time or another.  But they are not harmless. They are cries many are afraid to voice because they look straight into core of Christianity and essentially ask “Is your God, is my God, really who He says He is?”

Theological Significance Surrounding the Question

As I reflect back over this demand, I am struck by its potency. My first thought is to see it as a poison to the Christian faith. It seems to question God, it seems to doubt Him! If I were to say that the very fact they were asking that question told me they did not trust their Creator, it would not be the first or the last time that reply was given by a well-meaning Christian; but, how wrong and premature that answer would be.  Jesus Himself asked a very similar question as He hung on the cross “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”. He was not the only to offer this cry; it, in fact originated with David in Psalm 22. David begins his lament by asking this same question, “…why have you forsaken me?” How shocking. This question, that many Christians see as an accusatory statement of “doubt” was also asked by King David, then by Jesus. But why would God forsake King David, a man after His own heart, and His only Son whom scripture explicitly says He loved? Here, there is great significance – He didn’t.

When David first uttered those words in Psalm 22 it was in lament, despair, and questioning; but the passage doesn’t end there - it goes on as David moves to an attitude of praise. He is quick to acknowledge the Lord God as “the Holy One”, “the praise of Israel”; he recalls where the Lord has shown great faithfulness in the past; and His promise of deliverance in the future. This is where Jesus enters the scene.

So, why did Jesus also speak the words of David? It was for our benefit. There Jesus was- the symbol of God’s promises already fulfilled and promises yet to be fulfilled. He was the real life picture of David’s words. “Why have you forsaken me” was not meant to convey that God had left Him (He promised He wouldn’t in Deut. 31), but to point us toward His goodness and His faithfulness. Jesus was pointing to a time when David felt much like Christ’s followers did in the present situation of watching their Lord on hanging on a cross – forsaken. But it was also meant to remind them that God was still the “Holy one”, and that further promises were yet to be satisfied.

“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed”. Isaiah 53:4, 5

A Biblical Answer to a Biblical Question

                After understanding the theological significance to the question “where was God when”, I begin to find the beginnings of a sound biblical answer and perspective.  First of all, we can know that we serve a God who is faithful and keeps His promises. Thus, we can know that when we pray, He hears us (Psalm 116:1, 2); we can fully trust that He will never leave or forsake His children (Deut. 31:6); and we can have the confidence that God knew the struggles we would face, but has already offered us hope. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John  16:33) We can know that the hurts and the tragedies we experience are the result of a world that has yet to be restored. Pain and hurt are still around us because sin alters what was good and leaves it lacking – but, it will not be this way forever. It must answer to a God so loving of His people and so disgusted by wickedness that He has put a plan in place to separate the two forever – just not yet.

                Secondly, I would answer that the question “Where were You, God” is not just okay, but a good question to ask. So, ask it. In so many ways, the question is incredibly Biblical. It was asked by King David and Jesus Christ. However, it is important to note that this question was not done in a way that was intended to breed further doubt, but further hope. It was a question asked in humility that brought further praise to God and reminded us that we will feel the effects of sin in the world, but God isn’t finished with it yet, that He is still with us, that He will wipe away our every tear, and that because of His sacrifice- redemption is certain.

                Finally, I would urge one to not cease falling to their knees in prayer. I recognize that at this point it would be easy for one to neglect to see the need for prayer at all. If we know that the world is broken and nothing in this world is untouched by sin, why ask? To not ask would be a mistake. By not asking, we neglect to cling to the promise Jesus left us with in John 16:33. Sin has already been overcome! God desires that we make our requests known, and Jesus even takes the time to show His disciples how to pray. Prayer has power. Listening to our prayers and answering them is one of the great ways God shows His love for us. But we should also remember that God loves us because of who He is, not because we are entitled. When we ask for something it is an appeal to His grace, and not an appeal to His justice regarding what we feel we deserve. In this, we can know that everything He gives and withholds is done out of His love for us. So ask away.

Continuing to ask the Question

So, we can ask the question “Where was God”, and we can ask it often. Remembering the times before when all hope seemed lost and we couldn’t see a way out of the darkness that surrounded us; but knowing also that we have a God who is fighting and warring for us. We can remember that dominion belongs to a powerful and loving God who rules over the nations and will one day deliver His people.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation21:3-5