God Is

Does it ever seem like everyone in your life is going through something really terrible? I don’t mean just the regular everyday trials of life, but extremely difficult, even seemingly impossible circumstances. That’s where I find myself lately. Friends, family members, caregivers, counselees—all suffering significant loss, pain, or trial, and there is absolutely nothing that I can do to change any of their circumstances. I can encourage them, speak truth to them, and help in practical ways, but nothing I can do will stop their pain.

What do we do when life brings us to this place? Well, the way I see it, we have a couple of choices. The first, which I have to admit has been my default at times, is to become discouraged. The weight of suffering we see our loved ones going through is so heavy that we are crushed under it. Their burdens break our hearts, and we weep with them. We cry out to the Lord in pleadings for them. We soak our pillow with tears as we lie awake in sorrow for them. And still, they get no relief.

Then, even as we cry and pray, our friend’s husband passes away from cancer. Our sister’s premature baby girl takes her last breath. A fellow church member receives a devastating prognosis. What are we to make of these outcomes? Were our prayers and tears wasted? Did they fall on the ear of a God who doesn’t care enough to hear or answer? Though these thoughts may cross our minds, they must never take root in our hearts.

I have said this many times on this blog, but I will say it again today: We must never base our view of God on our circumstances. If we let what’s happening around us determine whether God cares about us or not, we will come to the wrong conclusion. God is God, and He is who He says He is, no matter what is happening around us. So, who does God say He is? Here are just a few of God’s statements about himself. There are many more.

God is faithful and just: Deuteronomy 32:4
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.

God is love: 1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

God is merciful: Deuteronomy 4:31
For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

God is righteous: Psalm 11:7
For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his his face.

God is creator of everything: Proverbs 3:19
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens…

God is the owner of everything: Psalm 50:10-12
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.

God is faithful:Deuteronomy 7:9 

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…

Dear friends, keep praying and crying out for those in need. Believe what God says about Himself, no matter how you feel or what you see. Remember Romans 8:28, and trust that He is working everything for good. God is God, and we are not. While we may not understand what He is doing or why, we must remain solidly rooted in our belief that He is who He says He is. If this seems too hard, and you think you just can’t believe, depend on the Lord to help your unbelief:

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:7

Even when our world seems to be crumbling around us, God will hold us tightly, keeping us believing in Him. It is He who saved us, He who sustains our salvation, and He who will bring us to glory in just a little while. Believe Him and trust who God is.