What's The Deal?

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

    I will be with him in trouble,

    I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:15

Staring down another surgery I can’t help but think about many years ago when you could ask me about my surgeries and I could tell you about just one–tonsils when I was sixteen years old. I’m having trouble keeping count at this point. The surgery I had this spring was supposed to solve my problem, instead it created more problems and more surgeries.

But then I think about people I know of who have cancer. People much younger than myself and even children who have had to fight cancer or other severe illnesses. And meaning no disrespect, but I sometimes can’t help but wonder what God is thinking. It is hard for us with our finite minds to comprehend the amount of suffering and grief and disease in this world and why it is allowed to occur.

Then there is the recent flood that swept away a camp of Christians. So many sweet Christian kids washed away and wiped off of the earth in mere minutes. It is too much to comprehend.

To all these crazy, almost unbelievable situations, God has one answer for us: I Am Here. As the verse above says: He will be with us in our troubles.

God does not always shelter us from the storms that wreck our lives. The wind blows, the lightning strikes, and the floods overwhelm us. We can’t fathom what is happening to us. All we can do is call upon the God we have given ourselves to. And believe He is there in our darkest hour.

Perhaps one day God will explain why we had to go through such difficult periods in our lives. Maybe one day we will understand it all. It is easy on sunny days and good times to sing the praises of God. But storms always come back around, and during those times our faith is tested. Do we still praise Him in the midst of our storms? Those are the times our witness is the strongest and we put down deeper roots of faith in our Lord.

Fellow believers, life ain’t fair and we all have frustrations and events that make us scratch our heads and wonder what is the deal God? Didn’t He see this coming? Of course He knows everything. Though He doesn’t shelter us from every storm He is right beside us to give us strength and faith to stand fast through it all.

Prayer: Dear Lord, life is unfair. And we often do not understand the tragedies that occur. During those times we need You the most to give us strength and peace in all our troubles. Thank You for Your Presence in our lives. Amen.