Where WASN'T God???

When bad things happen, when we don't understand what is going on, we tend to blame God. We ask, "Where was God when __________ happened?" Most assuredly that question has been asked in regards to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Yet, as natural as that question is, and as important as it is for each of us to realize how God works, there is a better question to ask. The better question is to ask, "Where wasn't God when _________ happened?" For you see, God is in control and God is everywhere.

God was in the Twin Towers, guiding THOUSANDS to safety and holding up the towers so many people could get out. God was at ground zero guiding search and rescue workers to the locations of buried survivors. God was at the Pentagon holding the fire back, reinforcing walls. God was on flight 93 giving courage and peace to passengers and allowing them to call family members.

God was there, holding us and protecting us all as we mourned. He was reminding us that evil is only temporary. It is drastic, it has eternal consequences, but evil's presence on this earth is only temporary.

God was there when I was raped and then when I was abused. God was there when you were hurting, when you were scared. God is there now, waiting to be invited to help and comfort you.

God WASN'T in the lives of the terrorists. They had already said NO to Him.

Here is the secret! God is in control and the ending, the conclusion of all this pain and suffering is that Jesus wins. We have been given free will and we use it to hurt each other. So few use it for God's glory, but in the end God WILL get the glory. Satan and evil will be cast into Hell forever, and those of us that have chosen Christ will get to live in a new Heaven, walk around a new earth.

It will be a place of nothing but glory. No sin, no pain, no fear. Just reigning and praising the Lamb, the good, holy and perfect one. That is the hope that we have. Knowledge of how this ends, trusting God to continue to work it all out, that is how America will continue to heal and grow.

Personally, grabbing hold of the rope God is offering you, the peace that comes through a relationship with Christ. Knowing Him, that is how YOU will heal from the pain you are enduring. There is nothing like hope to lighten a dark day. Nothing like sweet anticipation of joy, of laughter to help heal a broken heart and spirit.

God wasn't in the lives of those that chose evil, that chose to say "No thanks" to His Son's gift. But God can be in your life. Will you let Him in? He stands at the door and knocks. He is there. Let Him in.

-JLP-