Where Is God When You Need Him?

Psalm 42:1-3 (Contemporary English Version):

Longing for God

As a deer gets thirsty

            for streams of water,

I truly am thirsty

            for you, my God.

 In my heart, I am thirsty

for you, the living God.
            When will I see your face?

 Day and night my tears

            are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
            “Where is your God?”

I am writing this article, which will eventually get placed on my blog site, to put into words reflections that lie heavy upon my mind. As some of you who will be reading this are aware, I suffer with an immunodeficiency. I am unable to make sufficient serum immunoglobulins, and those I do make are rubbish. This is why I receive human immunological replacement every 28 days. I have a portacath on my right side with a line going into my superior vena cava. The human immunological replacement is infused through my portacath and is done in a clinic at the Maryborough Public Hospital in the supportive therapies unit. The infusion takes about three and a-half hours to complete and should give me benefit for a number of days. However, in honesty it seems that the effect of this infusion only lasts for three or four days, one week at the most. I also have an intramuscular penicillin injection during the infusion.

I have a brilliant immunologist who has been reviewing my case every three months for the past eight years. He shares my lack of expectation to have relief from these problems, basically because over the years much damage has been done to my lungs, liver and gut.

I take a cocktail of drugs twice daily, which includes opioids, a total of 1000mg of penicillin, nerve pain relief, panadol and occasional extra drugs as prescribed by my health professionals, depending if an opportunistic infection had sprung up. All this will continue for the rest of my life. I also have severe ulcers on my tongue and have had this problem for 18 years at least. This is caused by my immunodeficiency and is also irreversible and incurable.

What has motivated me to write this article is because people have said to me that surely God would intervene and heal me, or intervene and guide my health professionals to give me a drug or some medication that will bring relief from the constant pain in my mouth, gut and liver. Some people find it difficult to understand that genetic disorders are mostly incurable and whatever drugs or over-the-counter remedies one uses they are mostly ineffective.

Over the years I have been given much advice and suggestions on things that could possibly help me and give me relief. Herbal medication has been suggested, colloidal silver and many other ideas. Unfortunately these suggestions will not replace non-existent immunoglobulins, particularly as there is a fair amount of evidence that the immunodeficiency is genetic. The technical name for my immunodeficiency is “granulomatous variant of common variable immune deficiency.”

I must say that I do not believe that God has abandoned me, or let me down. In fact I am absolutely convinced that he has not! I have lived a life that has had a lot of struggles and over the years I have found that God is, to me, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

When I pray to God about my health it is basically for strength from God to get me through each day as it comes. I guess that I can testify to God’s grace, mercy and love. I am not boasting, because this is not happening because of my own initiatives or endeavours but because God is being who he is, a Sovereign God. I have accepted that God is Sovereign Lord of my life and I must let him work in my life entirely as he wishes to do.

My faith journey began when I was about 12 years of age, when I felt God was reaching out to me and calling me to himself. I accepted by faith the salvation offered to me through Jesus Christ. The sinless Christ, who had become incarnate and at 30-odd years of age was crucified for the sins of humankind, and three days later rose from the dead showing his victory over sin and death, was interested in me and manifests his love and grace to me daily. I definitely did not deserve God’s grace, but the Scriptures state that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 I was a foster child, and my foster mother took me as a newborn. Life for me as a child and an early teenager had its ups and downs, and there were many painful experiences during this time. I left my foster home when I was around 16 years of age, and for some time I was really a homeless person, although I was fortunate in always having somewhere warm to lay my head. During the time of my fosterhood I felt a strong sense of abandonment, particularly as I was told that I did not really belong in the family. This message was reinforced many times by my foster parents.

During my childhood and until I was in my late thirties I suffered from severe migraine headaches. I actually experienced a migraine about every two weeks, and the drugs I was given caused me to sleep for at least 24 hours. It was a debilitating experience.

The Psalm that I quoted at the beginning of this article was written by Psalmist David, at a time when he was at a very low point in his life. As I look at people like David, and other people in the Christian Scriptures I try to learn from their example of how they dealt with the problems of their life and also their dependence upon God.

Psalm 42 is a cry of a man far removed from the outward ordinances and worship of God, sighing for the long loved house of his God, but at the same time it is the voice of a spiritual believer, under depression, longing for the renewal of the divine presence, struggling with doubts and fears, but yet holding his ground by faith in the living God.

King David’s son, Absalom had led a revoIt against his father, King David, and this resulted in King David having to flee for his life from Absalom at this time in his life.

So imagine what is happening here: The great King, the mighty warrior, the successful patriot, exiled from his kingdom and nowhere to turn. He desires to feel the presence of God with him, but to David it seems that God is nowhere around. Those around him began to ask David, “Where is your God?” insinuating that God had left him, had abandoned him, and no longer heard is prayers.

This question caused King David to reflect on the days that had gone by. He is effectively saying: “I sigh as I think of happier days when you, God, was near me and every heart seemed to be tuned to praise you. No-one was more blessed than I was”.

King David remembers the days when he went with the multitude to the temple. He recalls vividly the voices of praise and joy that was heard. But now these people are saying to King David, “Where is your God now? Where is your God when you need Him?”

 Perhaps we should consider a few more examples from the Scriptures.

 If we were to read the Book of Job, in the Old Testament, we would notice that Job felt isolated from God. In reading about Job we learn that he was a man of integrity whose trust was in God. His ways were perfect. His life was above reproach. There was no incriminating evidence found in his life. Yet in the space of a few hours he was reduced from a wealthy man to a poor miserable person who had lost everything he had. The Book of Job tells us that he was reduced to sitting in sackcloth and ashes covered from the top of his head to the soles of his feet with boils. Where is God when you need Him?

Then there is the story of Joseph who was the son of Jacob. Joseph was regarded highly by his father, and Scripture records that he was so highly regarded that a coat of many colours was made for him. This caused his brothers to be jealous of him, and he was sold by them as a slave and he ended up in Egypt, falsely accused and thrown into prison. Where is God when you need Him?

Then there is the story of Moses whom God sent to Egypt. Moses was given the task by God to lead the Israelite slaves out of bondage in Egypt, and into the promised land. As we read the story of Moses we see that God worked marvellous things through Moses, and eventually the Israelite slaves were set free. We do not know how many Israelites left Egypt but it was a great number. At that time the Israelites did not have the Torah (the five books of Moses) because they were not written, and the Ten Commandments had not been given by God to Moses. The Scriptures however, records that the escaping Israelites came to the Red Sea. They were cornered like an animal in a cage, and Pharaoh’s army was behind them, mountains on both sides and the Red Sea in front. Where is God when you need Him?

In the New Testament, in the Gospel of St John, chapter 11, we have the story about the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha’s brother was deathly sick. They sent word to Jesus that he may come heal him. Jesus didn’t come when they expected him. Lazarus died and was buried. Jesus was their friend, but he did not come when he was needed. Where is God when you need him?

In another instance in the Gospels we read that the disciples were having fellowship with Jesus. He constrained his disciples to get into the fishing boat and sail to the other side of the Lake of Galilee. Suddenly a massive storm sprang up, but Jesus was asleep in the boat. The reaction of the disciples was one of despair and fear. Doesn’t Jesus care that we are going to perish in this storm? The storm is raging, the wind is blowing, the waves are coming over the ship. Where is God when you need him?

I would suggest that for most of us when we have trials, suffering, sorrows and the problems of life, we ask ourselves the question Where is God when you need him?

There are times when things have been good, when you have been blessed, when your needs have been met, delivered from harm’s way, and a host of other things. These good times have not been the result of your own efforts, but are evidence of a power outside of yourself, taking care of you and guiding your life.

But the time comes when you are in a mess, you are now in this trial of life. You are having financial problems, you have lost a loved one, you are facing troubles like you have never experienced before. Where is God when you need him?

Let us return to where we started this blog. Let us look again at Psalm 42. In verse 11 David says:

Why am I discouraged?

Why am I restless?

           I trust you!

And I will praise you again

because you help me,

            And you are my God.

 King David exhorts his readers: Put your trust in God. Place your confidence in God.

Psalm 42, verse 8:

Every day, you are kind,

            and at night

you give me a song

as my prayer to you,

            the living LORD God.

Here are a few more Scripture verses that I find very encouraging and helpful:

Joshua 1:5: Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses, and no one will ever be able to defeat you.

Hebrews 13:5: The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.

Psalm 37:25:

As long as I can remember,

good people have never

been left helpless,

and their children have never

gone begging for food.

Earlier we mentioned Job. He lost everything he had. He couldn’t find God. God seemed to be a million miles away. However, we read in  Job 13:15:

God may kill me, but still

I will trust him

and offer my defence. 

These words did not come from Job when everything was going well, but he said them when everything looked hopeless and gloomy.

When thoughts come to your mind when you are in the midst of trial and you ask the question Where is God when you need him? you can respond, “He’s where He’s always been, and where He always will be, right by my side. I trust Him to guide and direct me through this dark trial and I will come forth as gold.”

While Joseph was sitting in the dark prison, God didn’t forget him. God didn’t forsake him. God knew where he was. And in God’s own perfect time he came on the scene.

Remember Moses? Stranded by the Red Sea with many Israelite slaves, with nowhere to run.  Where was God? He was getting ready to implement his plans! You know the story, the waters departed and the people of Israel walked over to the other side on dry ground!

Remember Mary and Martha? They called for Jesus to come, but he just ignored their request. However, just when they thought all hope was gone, Jesus came on the scene. For you see, even death cannot stop Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life!

Where was Jesus? He was aware that death had taken Lazarus.

He was aware the storm was about to destroy the disciple’s boat.

 He was aware that Joseph was in that Egyptian jail.

He was aware that Job lost all he had and was sitting in agony scraping the boils on his body.

And He is aware what you and I are facing today!

He is aware what you and I are going through.

Quoting again from the Book of Job, chapter 23 verse 10:

But he knows what I am doing,

and when he tests me,

I will be pure as gold.

I willingly admit that there are times when it seems that God is a million galaxies away. There are times when I feel that he is not around anywhere. But he is!

I may not feel him right now, but he is as near as the breath I breathe. I can put my confidence and trust in a loving and merciful God. He will never leave me or forsake me.

I know he has a plan for my life regardless of how dark it may be. He still has plans to mold me into a vessel he can use for his glory.

I know He is much aware of all my pain and anxieties. He is aware of my times of loneliness. He is aware of the trials I face each and every day. He knows how you feel inside, really he does!

And he is right here with me. All I have to do is reach out to him. Draw near to God and he will draw near unto you.

Finally: It makes me wonder sometimes how arrogant we can be. We tend to live our life the way we want, without any regard to God and his claims on our life. Then we expect him to come to our aid when we are in need of comfort and support in our life. Then when things don’t seem to work out the way we want, we then blame God for not being there when we need him, or in some cases we doubt his very existence.

But at the end of the day, God hasn’t moved. He is still loving, patient, merciful and gracious.

He wants us to put our faith and trust in him.