Where is God ?

Normally this time of the year is a time of enthusiasm. The holidays are over, the children are back at school and a new year lies before us with all of its opportunities and challenges.

But, this year is different. The worst drought in 100 years continues to tighten its grip on our country, with no prospect of relief in sight. Stories of hardship and heartbreak, even of men driven to madness, continue to multiply. And the threat of bushfires, in the midst of searing heat, keeps us all on alert. In spite of our hardest efforts, gardens wither and plants and animals die.

And then, there is the constant threat of war in the Middle East, which every day seems to come one step closer. The fears and uncertainties of this have not only stirred up deep rifts in the community, but have depressed the stock market and affected the economy. For many facing retirement, or depending upon their assets to survive in retirement, the situation is rather grim. Someone complained to me last week that their Superannuation had declined last year more than all their years' contributions. Someone else asked me the question: "Where is God? Why does He allow such suffering?" As to the first part of the question, I know that He is here. He is never far from those who call upon Him. He has promised to be always with us as we continue to trust in Him. Even in the midst of the darkest tragedy and the deepest suffering, His presence is there to comfort testimony of God's people over thousands of years.

As to why God allows the sufferings of the present time, I do not have a clear answer. But, I believe we have to look much deeper at our understanding of the nature of God and his relationship to this world in which we are living.

While God has promised unequivocally to bless and prosper his people, that does not mean that we can expect a happy and peaceful life in our present situation. The problem is not to do with God, but with us. The world that we live in is at war with God. It is at heart sinful and corrupt and continues to rebel against the world so much that he sent his only son to rescue the world from its sin and corruption, the world responded by putting his son on a cross. For that reason alone, this world is under judgment, and must ultimately come to a fiery end. Drought, bushfiles and war have no comparison with what is yet to come upon this world.

At least one reason why God allows suffering is to wean us from obsession with this present life and its possessions. Another reason, I believe, is to bring us to our knees. Human nature is such that we are rarely moved to prayer unless the situation is hard. Moses warned the people of Isreal that when God brought them out of the desert, and they settled down in comfortable houses, they would forget God. The history of the Jews, and our own experience shows this to be so.

It may well be as the prophets have declared, the current problems will not end until the nation turns to prayer. God is still there, but He is waiting for us to turn back to Him.

John Davies

2 February 2003