Where Are You God? When The Wicked Prosper And You’re People Suffer? Series

Psalm 37: 1-9

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

I believe God brings us all to moments in time in our lives that make us ask this question…Where are you God? I believe this question is amplified in our minds when we look around us and see those who defy God openly and those who cheat, lie, and steal seemingly get away with it….we want to know why this happening is?

If I went around the room this morning and asked you when was your day of questioning God…asking Where are you….I’m pretty sure most of you could come up with a specific time in your life where this was made real for you. So as we go through this message today, ask yourself this question….How did you deal with that question? What was your conclusion?

I want to share a couple of my memories that I have as I grew up and was brought to a place where this question became real to me.

The first time I remember ever wondering what God was doing was when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade, we were living in Colorado Springs, CO. and my parents were attending Nazarene Bible College and working full time jobs. My twin brother and I along with my little sister had to go to a baby sitter from time to time, so one of the other NBC students had a teenage daughter who would come over and watch us, or we would go to their house. When you’re are 8 or 9 years old, you don’t really pay attention to much to who is watching you….you just want to know what kind of games are available…but we really liked our new friend who watched us from time to time. She got the flu, I remember that we prayed for her…but she got worse, the flu settled in her heart, and at the age of 16 she died. I remember her parents and how heartbroken they were as a family, and as an 8/9 year old kid, I remember asking God why did he allow this Christian girl to die when there were so many bad people in the world who didn’t even care about Him?

That’s when the first principle that I want to share with you was reinforced in my mind by my parents and those who were teaching me about this Christian life….

1. This World is not our ultimate destination, we are just passing through. . 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

One of the ideas that I believe we need to come to realize about the Christian life and how we are to approach our lives is this: True blessing has nothing to do with getting “things” or gaining “wealth” in this life. True blessing has everything to do with knowing Jesus Christ and inheriting everlasting life with Him in Heaven.

John 16:32-33…. Jesus is speaking to his disciples, letting them know that there will be trouble, but He has an answer….32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus shares some important clues here for us….when he was going through this time of great trial, when all his friends ran and left him….he knew something very important that we all need to get ahold of…. “..for my Father is with me.” Jesus knew His Father, our Heavenly Father, was always with him, even when this trouble and trial and the Cross were in his near future.