Where is God in the Midst of Suffering?
Have you ever wondered where God was when you were suffering?
I know I have.
Even more so when one of my kids was suffering. No one wants to see their children go through hardships, especially when it’s things outside of their control.
In the midst of those situations, we often begin to doubt. Not necessarily that God exists. But that He loves us, cares for us, and is working on our behalf.
Where is God in the Midst of Suffering?
This week I read a story where a mom describes the suffering her children have been through and how doubt began to control her thoughts. She shares bits and pieces of her battle and how God ultimately used the suffering to expose doubts she had about Him.
I can relate, can you?
I was reminded of just how much I’ve let doubt creep in, when I read this excerpt from her post:
It wasn’t long before it was clear that I did have doubt.
I never doubted that Jesus was ABLE to prevent our children’s pain.
I never doubted He was ABLE to heal them at any time.
We prayed and prayed. Both children were healed in His unique way, and in His time. But not in OUR Time.
So I doubted His love.
For our son. For our daughter. For our family.
For ME.
We placed our hope and faith in Him in our distress and didn’t get the response we desired. We prayed boldly. We trusted.
We pleaded and cried out before Him as we held our sweet hurting babies.
And for a time that seemed far too long, they kept on hurting.
And doubt creeped in.
Elaine Stores
It’s so easy to forget how much we are loved in the midst of suffering. When we believe for something for so long, like Elaine, we grow weary and doubt can begin to manifest and grow.
