Where Is God When Life Hurts?
Photo courtesy of Magnific.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
- Psalm 34:18
When life begins to fall apart or things don’t go exactly the way you hoped, one of the first questions you might ask is, “Where is God?” For some, suffering looks like grief after losing a loved one. For others, it may be ongoing anxiety, depression, or unanswered prayers that seem to stretch on for years. It can look like relationship heartbreak, financial stress, or seasons of deep loneliness. Whatever form it takes, suffering has a way of making us feel isolated and can cause us to question where God is in the middle of it. But just as suffering is not an indication of faith, asking these questions does not indicate a lack of faith.
All People Suffer
Scripture reminds us that suffering is something every person will face at some point. In fact, Jesus gives us a heads up when He tells us that we will experience trouble in this life (John 16:33). He says this not long before experiencing intense physical pain, emotional anguish, and spiritual distress Himself. But the message of the Gospel goes even deeper than that. God did not remain distant from human suffering. Through Jesus Christ, He stepped directly into it. Jesus experienced betrayal, rejection, deep sorrow, and physical suffering on the cross. Because of this, we serve a Savior who not only sees our pain but truly understands it.
Seeking God in Suffering
One of the clearest examples of suffering in the Bible is the story of Job. Job lost his health, his children, and his wealth, and he found himself deeply questioning where God was in the middle of it all (Job 23). Throughout the book, Job cries out to God, defends his own innocence, and longs for answers. He could have shut down, decided God wasn’t real, and turned bitter in his despair, but instead he pours his grief and his confusion into the relationship. Eventually, God responds from a whirlwind, reminding Job that He is there and that His wisdom and understanding are far greater than human comprehension. Even though Job doesn’t receive every answer he wants, his story reminds us that bringing our honest questions to God, even our anger and accusations, is not a sign of weak faith. On the contrary, it’s a sign that we’re faithfully pursuing relationship with the One who will always be faithful back.
God’s Presence in Suffering
Sometimes God’s faithful presence looks like peace that doesn’t make sense in the middle of chaos. Other times, it shows up through the support of people He places in our lives at just the right time. And often, it is seen more clearly in hindsight, when we look back and realize that He was sustaining us even when we didn’t feel it. In the middle of suffering, God is not absent. God is in the story with you. While this doesn’t mean suffering is good, what it does mean is that God sees it, God runs toward it, and He can bring purpose and transformation from it. Things don’t always have to feel good in order to work out for your good (Romans 8:28). Even if you don’t think you feel His presence, you can trust that God is faithful.
So what does this mean for you if you are suffering right now? Be encouraged to know that God is not a distant, unfeeling observer. He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He binds up your wounds (Psalm 147:3). He is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Even when the road is painful and the answers are unclear, you can trust that God has not left you. He is present in your pain, working in ways you may not yet see, and holding you steady through it all. And because it’s a relationship, you get to ask Him all the questions you want.