“Where is your God?”
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence” (Ps. 42:5).
One of the questions our Christians question is, “Why should the righteous suffer?” Especially when the wicked are prosperous, we sometimes wonder why we who are justified in believing in Jesus must suffer. Among this question is a question that disturbs us and discourage our hearts. The question is, "Where is your God?" We can be discouraged, especially when this question is thrown at us by unbelievers around us who do not believe in Jesus. Further, we can be restless and discouraged when our enemies, who harass, despise, and persecute us throw this question at us.
That's what happened to the psalmist in Psalms 43. He was in despair and became disturbed within him. The reason was that when the psalmist was being oppressed by his enemy (v. 9), they reviled him (v. 10) and said to him all day long, “Where is your God?” (vv. 3, 10). Then the psalmist longed for God in despair (v. 2). He longed for God in thirst as the deer panted for the water brooks (v. 1). How precious is the grace of God? God made the psalmist to long for God in despair, and this was God's grace. The psalmist remembered the Lord in His grace (v. 6) and prayed to God of his life (v. 8). Then he hoped for God. He put his hope in God (vv. 5, 11; 43:5). Eventually, God made the psalmist's despair to long for God, and in that longing God made him to put his hope in Him. And God made the psalmist who hoped in God to praise Him as he got the help of His presence (vv. 5, 11; 43:5). What an amazing living God's grace?
Our God is never a dead God. Our God is the living God. And our God is Immanuel God with us. The problem of suffering given to us in God’s sovereignty, God knows and sees it. Even though it seems like there is no solution to our suffering problem, we need to be alert to our enemy's word, "Where is your God?" We should never let that word come into our hearts and make us to doubt 'Where is my God?' Otherwise, we will be in despair and become disturbed with us like the psalmist. But even if we are in despair, we mus make it an opportunity to long for God. Like the psalmist, we must seek God in despair and cry out to Him. Then God will give us hope. God will give us confidence in God's help. Therefore, we will praise God in our hope. May this grace and blessing be upon you all.
Longing for God and hoping in Him in the midst of despair,
James Kim
(After preparing a saint’s funeral service)