Why does a good God allow bad things to happen to good people? It’s an age old question, and one that I don’t intend to attempt to answer here. Only to say that the fact is; we live in a broken and fallen world. Sin broke this world, but God in his grace longs to welcome us back to his perfection. 

The question that I’d like to answer today while similar, is completely different – Where is God in the bad things and hard times? Questions like these hit closer to home when someone you love is going through one of those unexplainable hard times. Which is exactly where many of us have found ourselves this week. Several days ago the daughter of a close friend was diagnosed with cancer. Those are words no one ever wants to hear, especially no parent! I don’t pretend to know exactly how my friend feels because it’s not my child. But I do see the hurt and confusion on her face and hear it in her voice. And while I know there are no words that can take away their pain, my hope and prayer is that their entire family will not only know, but see and feel the love of their people. 

We all know there are stages of processing and/or grief that we go through when we receive bad news or find ourselves walking through a dark valley. Yesterday my stage was anger and impatience. Do you ever have those days when everything and everyone seems to tick you off? That is pretty much where I found myself yesterday. So many of us are hurting for our friend and while we are working to provide them with support, both spiritually and practically, it somehow doesn’t seem enough. Hence the question. 

Sometimes it’s easier for those on the outside looking in to see God working. What God began to show me was that He has been there all along and even way before we knew we needed Him. No news, no matter how bad or good, is a surprise to God. He knows all things and has been working to prepare our way. 

Where is God when your 14 year old is diagnosed with cancer – he has been working in you the last several years, drawing you close, growing you, convicting you and teaching you that He is in fact God and the only way and best way. Where is God when you are weary and don’t know how you are going to walk through this valley -He has been nurturing relationships, building them into deep, lasting friendships so that you are not alone but surrounded by good friends, leaning on them when you just can’t. Where is God when you don’t know how to make ends meet or get through normal daily life -He has been growing your involvement in a church family, so not only is this body of believers willing to provide for and support your family, but are more than willing to and asking to help. Where is God when you’ve missed work and school and practice – He has been building relationships at jobs, schools, and on sports teams so that these communities are fully understanding and rallying their troops to provide additional support for your family. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Exodus 14:13-14 says “But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and have only to to be silent..” How perfect are those words?! So many tears have been shed over the past week, but I’m beginning to realize not all of them have been bad. Some of them come from the realization that God is indeed good and that He has been preparing us for this battle for some time now. One of these friends was teaching our middle schoolers last night and reminded them that we are “forgetters”. We too often forget how big, how good, how perfect our God truly is! We forget that the battle is not ours, but His and spoiler alert – God wins!

We love you Jeff, Katherine, Kendra and Joe.