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Have you ever reached a point in your life when you seriously doubted God — his plan or reasons for allowing suffering and heartache? Trying to make sense of the “why?” question has …
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Have you ever reached a point in your life when you seriously doubted God — his plan or reasons for allowing suffering and heartache? Trying to make sense of the “why?” question has caused even the strongest to lose heart. “Why God?” is the question that often seems to have no answer. As we ponder this question, let’s look at a story in John chapter 8 and see what is unfolding in the life of an unsuspecting woman caught in a terrifying drama. At this moment in her life, the devious plans of heartless men reveal that she is a pawn being used to trap Jesus. She is in immediate danger, a danger so great she could actually lose her life.
Looking around, she sees angry eyes glaring down at her. She hears ugly, nasty and deliberately hurtful words being spoken about her. “You’re an adulteress, you deserve to die,” they heartlessly declare!
As this nightmare unfolds she must have been wondering, hoping, praying that someone would intervene, someone who cares enough to stop this madness and help her. Doesn’t anyone love her enough to set her free from this trauma and horrifying abuse?
Where is he? Where is God when someone who is about to die needs him most? Unknown to her, the moment of her greatest trial is a trial for Jesus, too. The same men abusing her have made sinister plans to take his life as well.
The short answer to what is God doing when your world is falling apart is found in what Jesus is doing as this precious woman is being condemned to death. When, to all human understanding, God appears to be absent — when everyone around you has forsaken you — the same Jesus who went to the Mount of Olives 2,000 years ago to pray and prepare for this battle (John 8:1), is just as willing and able to rescue you from whatever circumstance you are facing today.
Right now, he is waiting to hear your urgent plea. He longs to heal your broken life and, I believe, is willing to do everything possible to rescue you from whatever you are facing. My prayer is that you will allow him to help you, to save you and set you free. (Stay tuned, part 2 is coming next time.)
(Steve Nelson is pastor at Seventh Day Adventist Church.)
