Faith for When You Wonder If God Is Really There
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When You Wonder Where God Is
"If God is love, why is there so much hate in the world?"
Have you heard people ask this? Have you wondered this yourself?
You're not alone.
The book of Job is a textbook case for the question, "Why God?"
Many of the psalms echo this and even Jesus on the cross cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46)
When these questions churn within our hearts and minds, we need real faith.
Genuine, relational faith is valuable and what we need.
Relational faith—trust in a living God—isn't hemmed in by short-sightedness.
Relational faith looks to God beyond what is obvious to everyone else.
Real faith sees God for who He is.
Scripture
Why are you so distant, Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
The wicked person arrogantly pursues oppressed people. He will be caught in the schemes that he planned.
The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires.
He blesses robbers, but he curses the Lord. He turns up his nose ⌊and says⌋, “God doesn’t care.” His every thought ⌊concludes⌋, “There is no God.”
He says to himself, “Nothing can shake me. I’ll never face any trouble.”
He says to himself, “God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it!”
Arise, O Lord! Lift your hand, O God.
Do not forget oppressed people!
Why does the wicked person despise God?
Why does he say to himself, “God doesn’t care”?
The Lord is king forever and ever. The nations have vanished from his land.
You have heard the desire of oppressed people, O Lord. You encourage them.
You pay close attention to them in order to provide justice for orphans and oppressed people so that no mere mortal will terrify them again.
(Psalm 10:1-4, 6, 11-13, 16-18 GW) [Context– Psalm 10]
Reflections and Insights
Have you ever looked through a telescope or pair of binoculars? Looking through the small end (eyepiece) makes things look near that are far away.
I've looked at the moon through a telescope and marveled at the detail of its craters. It's an amazing view.
If you flip the telescope around to look through the wide end, everything looks much smaller and far away. It's a distorted view.
Evil gets noticed more than good. Consider what gets airtime on the media—all that is wrong or going bad.
It's a matter of perspective.
Authentic faith brings us closer to God and enables us to see things from His perspective.
But God's arm is longer than wickedness and evil. He cares far more about it all than we ever can or will.
As I heard many years ago— ”Don’t why God, worship Him!”
When we focus on what is bad, evil, or wrong, we lose perspective.
But…
As we set our minds to refocus our attention on the Lord and choose to trust in God with all our hearts, our perspective will change.
Then our perspective on life and the world around us will change.
It’s our choice.
Either we can question why and whine about what’s wrong.
Or, we trust and worship the Lord our Deliverer and Helper.
What will you choose?
Digging deeper to Make it personal...
Review the Scriptures above as you consider the following questions
What is the first complaint expressed in this psalm?
How are wicked people characterized? What is their attitude towards God?
Where does this psalm begin to change direction? What indicates this change?
How does the psalmist resolve the initial questions and dilemma?
Are there times when God seems distant and removed? How often do you feel this way?
Does it seem to you that too many people get away with cheating, lying, oppression, and other wicked things?
How often do you take note of people doing good? When you see it do you appreciate and encourage them?
What is your faith based on?
Does your trust in God enable you to see beyond immediate circumstances?
Would you like a free study guide for your study of Psalms?
Click the link for a free Psalms Study Guide
