Where is God when you need him?
Psalm 42:3 “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, where is thy God?”
This was a very low point in David’s life.
It is the cry of a man far removed from the outward ordinances and worship of God, sighing for the long loved house of his God;
And at the same time it is the voice of a spiritual believer, under depressions, longing for the renewal of the divine presence, struggling with doubts and fears, but yet holding his ground by faith in the living God.
It is probable that David was on his flight from Absalom at this time in his life.
Absalom had led a revolt against his father King David causing him to flea for his life.
Here the great King, the mighty warrior, the successful patriot, exiled from his kingdom and no where to turn.
He longs for the house of God. He desires to feel the presence of God with him, but God seems to be no where around.
Then those around him began to ask, “Where is thy God?” They were insinuating that God had left him and no longer heard his prayers.
Then David began to reflect on days gone by. He seems to be saying,
"I sigh to think of happier days when thou, O God was nigh, when every heart was tuned to praise; And none more blest than I."
Verse 4 says, “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.”
David remembers the days when he went with the multitude to the house of God. He recalls vividly the voices of praise and joy that was heard.
But now they say, “Where is your God now?”
“Where is your God when you need Him?”
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 just a few short hours he was reduced from a wealthy man to a poor miserable creature who lost everything he had.
There he sat in sackcloth and ashes covered with boils from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.
Where is God when you need Him?
There was Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was the apple of his father’s eye. He was part of God’s covenant!
But his jealous brothers sold him as a slave, ended up in Egypt falsely accused and thrown in prison.
Where is the God of the covenant now?
There was Moses whom God sent to Egypt to lead the Israelite slaves out of bondage.
God worked marvelous things and they were set free.
But then they came to the Red Sea. Cornered like an animal in a cage. Pharaoh’s army was behind them, mountains on both sides and the Red Sea in front.
Where is our God, now?
Mary and Martha’s brother was deathly sick so they sent word to Jesus that He may come heal him.
Jesus didn’t come when they expected him. Lazarus died and was buried.
Why didn’t Jesus come? Where is he? I thought he loved us!
The disciples were in a storm in the midst of a raging sea. Just a while earlier they were on the shore having fellowship with Jesus.
But Jesus constrained them to get in the ship and sail to the other side of the sea.
But now a storm is raging. The winds are blowing. The waves are coming over into the ship!
Where is Jesus now? Does he not care that we perish in this storm? Where is he?
Has there ever been a time in your life when you said, “Where is God?”
I’ve always trusted him. I’ve always been faithful? I’ve paid my tithes and have given of my time and talents.
Then you recall the times in your life when God was blessing you, and you bragged on how good God was, and how faithful he was to you.
You testified about how God met your needs, healed your body, delivered you from harm’s way, and a host of other things.
Now the devil says, “Where is your God now?”
Now you are in this mess. Now you are in this trial. Now you don’t have the money to pay your bills. Now you are facing troubles like you have never seen.
Where is your God now? Where is he? Has he forsaken you? Has he forgotten about you?
Has he turned his face against you? Where is your God?
Oh, but listen to what David said in verse 11. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Hope thou in God, or place your trust in God. Place your confidence in God. Commit your life unto God.
Verse 8 “Yet the LORD will command his loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”
Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
Remember Job? He lost everything he had. He couldn’t find God. God seemed to be a million miles away.
But he said in Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
And in spite of it all Job said, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”
Job didn’t utter these words while everything was going good. But he said them when everything looked hopeless and gloomy.
Listen, when ole Satan comes to you in the midst of your trial and asks the question, “Where is your God now?
You can respond, “He’s where He’s always been, and where He always will be, right by my side.”
“And I trust Him to guide and direct me through this dark trial and I will come forth as gold.”
While Joseph was sitting in that dark prison God was at work planning a way for his escape.
No, 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 nowhere to run.
Where was God? Oh, 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.
But just when they thought all hope was gone, Jesus came on the scene. For you see, even death cannot stop Jesus.
For He is the resurrection and the life!
Remember the disciples? Just when it seemed all hope was gone. Just when they thought they were going to sink to the bottom of that raging sea, Jesus came walking upon the water.
Where was Jesus? Oh, 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 scrapping the boils on his body.
And He is aware what you are facing today!
He is aware what you are going through.
Job said in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
It may seem right now that God is a million galaxies away.
You may not feel that He is around anywhere. But He is!
Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
Job 23:8 ¶ “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.”
What amazing confidence! You may not feel him right now, but he is as near as the breath you breathe.
You see, it’s the devil’s business to cause you to think that God has forsaken you.
When trials come, it is his nature to place thoughts in your head such as the question, “Where is God?”
“Where is your God now?”
But put your confidence and trust in a loving God. He will never leave or forsake you.
He has a plan for your life regardless of how dark it may be.
He still has plans to mold you into a vessel he can use for his glory.
He is much aware of all your pain and anxieties.
He is aware of your loneliness. He is aware of the trials you face each and every day.
He knows about your family troubles. He knows about your finances. He knows about your heartbreak.
He knows how you feel inside, really he does!
And he is right there with you. Just reach out to him. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh unto you.
