Where Is God When Things Go Wrong?
Where is God when things go horribly wrong?
A bad decision. The loss of a loved one. A failed relationship. When we’re hurting—perhaps especially when that pain is unexpected—it can feel like a betrayal. We might start to think that God didn’t come through for us when we needed Him, and we might start to wonder what will happen if we trust Him in the future.
“Are we sure we can trust Him? Are we really sure?”
Here are a few things that are true. They are simple reminders of what the Lord is like even when life doesn’t work out the way we expected—when things are hard and we find ourselves walking through some kind of trauma.
Pray about the following statements. When you come across one that stands out to you, look up the verse in context and really consider what God is saying. What is He trying to communicate to you?
God’s Heart When We’re in Pain
The Lord feels things deeply, and He aches when we’re aching (John 11:35–36).
He will never leave us alone (Deut. 31:6).
He’s close to the hurting ones (Ps. 34:18).
The Lord thinks and acts like a Shepherd who is carefully watching over His sheep. He knows what we need when we’re in pain. He fights off our enemies and goes after us when we wander away (Matt. 18:12–13).
He is the safe tower for our hearts (Prov. 18:10).
He wants us with Him, even when we react poorly or don’t get everything right (Luke 15:28).
He doesn’t expect us to handle the pain on our own (1 Pet. 5:7).
He gives us wisdom when we don’t know what to do (Jas. 1:5).
He is kind (1 Cor. 13:4).
He satisfies our hearts by giving us what we need (Acts 14:17).
He ministers to our aching places and carefully takes care of them (Ps. 147:3).
He carries us tenderly, close to His heart (Isa. 40:11).
The Lord goes out of His way to show us compassion (Isa. 30:18).
At every moment, in any situation, we get to run to Him and hide in His shadow (Ps. 36:7).
He reveals His love with wonder (Ps. 17:7).
When we cry to Him for help, He comes (Ps. 18:6, 16–18).
This Week’s Activity
Choose one of the above statements, and write it down in your journal. Talk to God about it, and ask Him what it means for you—your heart, your circumstances, your life. Write down what you sense He says.
Interested in reading more about dating, relationships, and your walk with God? Here are a few articles on related topics:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.