"Where is your God?"

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:5)

One of the questions that Christians often struggle with is, "Why must the righteous suffer?" Especially, we might wonder why it is that the wicked prosper while those of us who are declared righteous by faith in Jesus must endure suffering. In the midst of these questions, there arises a troubling and discouraging one: "Where is your God?" This question can be especially unsettling when posed by those around us who do not believe in Jesus. When this question comes from non-believers, we might easily become discouraged. Furthermore, when our enemies—those who persecute, insult, and oppress us—ask us, "Where is your God?" we may feel anxious and fully despair.

In today's passage, the psalmist in Psalm 43 expresses this experience. The psalmist was despondent and anxious. The reason for his despair was that, while being oppressed by his adversaries (v. 9), they mocked him and continuously asked him, "Where is your God?" (v. 3, v. 10). At that moment, in his despair, the psalmist longed for God (v. 2). Just as the deer pants for streams of water, the psalmist yearned for God (v. 1). What a precious grace of God this is! God allowed the psalmist to long for Him even in his despair, and this was nothing less than God's grace. In God's grace, the psalmist, remembering the Lord (v. 6), prayed to the God of life (v. 8). And it was then that his hope in God was renewed. He began to look to God (vv. 5, 11; Psalm 43:5). Ultimately, God allowed the psalmist's despair to stir in him a longing for God, and in that longing, God led him to put his hope in Him. And God, seeing the psalmist hope in Him, caused the psalmist to praise Him for the help that came from God's face (vv. 5, 11; 43:5). How amazing is the grace of the living God!

Our God is not a dead God. Our God is a living God. And our God is the Emmanuel, the God who is with us. In His sovereignty, God knows and sees the pain we endure. Even though we may not see a resolution to our suffering, and even when we feel our patience running out, we must be cautious of the enemy's question: "Where is your God?" We must never let that question enter our hearts and cause us to wonder, "Where is my God?" If we do, we will become anxious and despondent, just like the psalmist.

However, even if we feel despair, we must take that despair as an opportunity to long for God. Just as the psalmist did, we should earnestly seek God in prayer amidst our discouragement. When we do so, God will give us hope in our hearts. God will reassure us of His help. And in that hope, we will praise God. I pray that this precious grace will be with all of us.

Desiring to long for and hope in God, even in the midst of despair,

Pastor James Kim
(After preparing the funeral service of a deacon)