In times of national disasters, such as the Twin Towers incident in 200, many people were confused and afraid, so they looked for answers. After the tsunami in 2013 that took a million lives, people started asking, ‘Where was God?’. God should have prevented this evil. Harold Kushner, a popular rabbi and author, proposed an explanation for disasters. His conclusion was that God was either good but not powerful to prevent disaster or He was powerful but not always good. Both are false. God is all good and all powerful (Rom 8:28). He is the great I AM, self existent, creator of all things. In this current global crisis, we remember God is sovereign and working.
Where is God?
Job had lost his children, his wife and the love they shared, his livelihood, his wealth, his health and his friends. He lost everything. His former life seemed greatly blessed by God, but now he was looking for God. Job was confused and looking for answers. As Christians, we can also doubt or be confused about our circumstances. Eliphaz said God was punishing Job (Job 22:5-&), but Job knew his innocence. Even God said there was no one righteous like Job. Job was what we would call a mature believer. Still, Job was searching for God, looking for answers and God was silent. Job couldn’t find God, `He is not there… I cannot perceive Him`. Job was in the dark, lonely and in despair.
Right now, it’s similar to what’s going on with the coronavirus. Many people are going through really tough times, financially, sickness, and even death. We don’t know what’s going to happen. We are confused. We are trying to find God.
Reasons we cannot find God
First we try to make a deal with God. We think if we do certain things then God would respond with favor. But God is not like man. He doesn’t think or act on man’s level (Is55:8-9;1Cor1:25). It only takes a look at the gospel to understand that only God could conceive and accomplish such a salvation, when all other religions are based on works.
Our doubt can also be caused by impatience. However God is always preparing something good. To avoid impatience:
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Know who God is, specifically God is omnipresent and in every circumstance.
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Know the pattern of God. He is the one who approaches first. God approached Adam and Eve first after they were lost in the garden. Jesus approached the disciples when they were hiding in fear after his death.
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God is in us. Whatever happens we are in Christ and He is in us. (2 Cor 5:17)
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God is our father. He chose us to be His children. He loves us and will never abandon us. (Is49:15, Jn1:18, Lk15:20)
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God made a covenant with us. Like the covenant with Abraham, we have a new covenant in Jesus. (Ro8:38-39) Nothing can separate God from us.
God is working even though we can’t see Him
God is not dead at all. Even though we can’t see or sense Him, God is not dead. In contrast He is constantly working. He is governing all creation, sustaining and directing every aspect of the universe. (Jn 5:17;Co1:17).
God is always working for the purpose of salvation (Jn6:29). From the Bible, we know God the Father is sustaining the believers (Jn6:37,39), Jesus the Son is interceding for us (Ro8:34) and the Holy Spirit is convicting sinners and teaching. (Jn16:8-9;14:26). The Trinity is working to save because salvation is the work of God.
So why can’t we see God?
We have unconfessed sin (He12:14). Through His word we believe and know God, so while we are in the pit, we must continue to pursue holiness. God sympathizes with us and is there in the midst of our crisis. The problem is we lack faith, like the disciples in the boat during the storm. Jesus was right there! (Mk 4:37-38) Faith depends on God’s word and when we have faith in God we are able to overcome because God is with us and He is working. So be faithful and holy.
God’s purpose
Job demonstrates a faith that is based on the Scriptures. `He knows the way I take`. Job is confessing that even in the midst of trials he will come out as gold. How can Job do this? Job knows that God knows. We get mad at God because we think He doesn’t know what we are going through. But God knows everything. (Ps147:5; Jer17:9-10). Not only does He know, but God has a purpose. `When he tried me`. The sovereign God is in control and His purpose is for us to be like Jesus, a Christ-likeness, which is more precious than gold (Ac3:6). We should welcome our trying, we should boast about Jesus. Jesus is our greatest gain for which we sacrifice all things (Phi3:7-8).
It is amazing to realize that God is working on us for our good in times like this. We can see God working when we live by faith in Jesus, the Son of God. This is the time to stand by faith, to not be confused or hide, but work just as God is working on us. As Christians, we can see God rightly and have hope, which is what people truly need.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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