Where Is God?

Remember mom taking you grocery shopping when you were a kid?  The only thing in a grocery store that amused me was the automatic coupon dispensers, and I would spend every spare second playing with them.  I was so obsessed with them that I wouldn't even notice if mom meandered into the next aisle.  Remember the fear that gripped you when you turned around and she wasn't there?!  I would instantly panic and start scanning the aisle for her.  To my relief I discovered she still had her eye on me, and wasn't that far away after all. 

Even though most of us don't still break out in cold sweat every time mother leaves our sight, everyone has experienced the fret of loneliness.  At one point Job felt like he couldn't even find God!  In Job 23:2 he cries out, "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!"  Job had gone through quite a bit to come to this point.  He had lost his land, livestock, possessions, children, and health.  Everything he had worked for and dreamed of was gone.  Where was God?  Was He gone too?

It is encouraging to know the end of the story.  God had not left Job for a second; He was with him to the very end.  In fact, after Job went through the refiner's fire, the Lord gave him back everything he had lost, times two! The account of Job is encouraging because if Job was never really alone, we have no reason to think we are either.  Yes, there are times when we contemplate the refining process we are going through and ask, "Where is God?"  The answer is found in Job 23:8-12, namely verse 10.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Even when it looks like you're all alone, don't worry... you're not.  The loneliness inside of you may say, "I'm all alone" but God's Word says, "I will never leave thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  In the above passage from Job, verses 11-12 lay out a simple plan for staying on the right path even when it's hard.  It's called a daily walk with God.  Esteem your time with Him as your most important appointment of the day.  Some say breakfast is the most important meal of the day; Job 23:12 says your daily time with God should take precedence over your necessary food.

The Lord knows the way that you take from the "big picture view."  When meteorologists track a storm, they use satellites and other equipment that provide a bird's eye view.  Which would you trust more, a forecaster who uses weather balloons and in-space cameras, or someone who just looks out the window and says, "Oh look, a hurricane... everybody take cover!"  God sees the big picture, which means we can trust Him!  Even better, He is not an impersonal God who just watches things happening down here on earth; He is intricately involved in every area of your life.  Nothing happens to you without His approval and involvement.  No matter what is going on in your life at this very moment, He is right there with you.

Psalm 37

A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.