Where is God When Terror Reigns? Sunday Glimpses

Where is God when terror reigns?

Lord, You are great and worthy to be praised! You are awesome in power, beautiful in holiness. Help us understand Your magnificence Lord, because You are beyond our comprehension, yet You reveal Yourself  to us and make Yourself known. Thank You. That is beyond wonderful to me. Help us take You out of the box so we can embrace the fullness of who You are. Help us understand Your heart as You consider Your children. Your love for us is truly amazing.

We want to understand the terror that is flooding our world. Many are asking where You are God when these tragedies are happening? Are You heartbroken too? Do You grieve with us? Do You experience righteous anger like we do? Help us understand, Lord as You make Yourself known.

I’m reminded that You are a good God who pursues us with Your love. I’m reminded that You have given us free will as we find our way through this fallen world. And I’m reminded that bad things happen to good people because, for now, Satan is the prince of this world. We tend to forget that, don’t we? Forgive us Lord for blaming You. Forgive us for our selective memories. This was not Your original plan, but because You desired children and not robots, sin entered our world and corrupted it, leaving us vulnerable to the work of the enemy.

But this I know … You make a way of escape for us through Jesus whose Blood bathes us in righteousness that we might enter into covenant with You. And, even though we still live in a fallen world full of evil, disease, pain, terror —  we are no longer of this world. Your angels are given charge over us to shield and protect us, or to escort us to Your throne of grace if its our appointed time to die. The reward is You. The reward is eternal life in Your Presence. This world is not our home.

And though our flesh cries out because of the evil inflicted on innocent people, and the world cries out, “Where is Your God now?”, I know that I know You are with us. I know You comfort Your dying child, taking away the fear and giving an anointing of peace. I know You whisk away the children who are taken too soon and walk with them through fields of glory. I know that You cry out to those in need saying, “It is I, the Lord your God. I am with you, if you will only believe.” This world is not our home, neither is it our reward. You, and You alone are.

Where is God when terror reigns?

Oh, my Lord, open our eyes that we might see Your Truth. Awaken our hearts to understand that, even though evil is reigning in our world, You are still God! You are mighty to save and tender in Your love. But the world makes choices and the people in this world make choices, and You allow that because You are good.

Enlighten the eyes of our understanding to find You in the midst of the heartbreak and help us understand that we cannot contain You within the realm of our finite minds. You are so much more and Your ways are not our ways.

If we would but let go of our need for control and rest in the knowledge that You are God and that, for those who believe, You will never leave us nor forsake us. Not in the face of evil. Not in the bloodshed of terror. Not in the heartbreak of disease, divorce, or injustice. You are who You say You are, and You will not be made into something or someone that You are not. I praise You for that. I thank You that You are so much bigger than what our eyes can see and what our minds can comprehend.

Lord, thank You for being God — for being the Creator of heaven and earth. Thank You for not changing. And thank You for grieving alongside us and giving us strength to carry on in Your Name. We love You Lord.