God, Where Are You?

A friend of mine recently lost her 27-year-old son in a tragic accident in which they don’t know the details and probably never will. My husband and I travelled to be at the memorial—Mike had baptized this young man as a child, and his parents exemplify close in the word friend for us.

Talking to my friend she shared how through so much pain and sorrow it can leave one searching…

Where is God in all this?

And…

Where is the good in the world?

Understandable. Losing a child comes with heartache only those who travel that road can fully understand.

In my friend’s sorrow there have been “angels” who have emerged.

An older lady who worked at a train station:

When this young man passed his backpack was brought to his parents. In it was a cell phone that belonged to a woman in Main who sold tickets at a train station. My friend got in touch with her and she turned out to be 86 years old, and one of the last people who saw her son. This lady told her of his beautiful smile. Hearing this brought her some comfort.

A postal worker:

When she (my friend) went to the post office to return the phone to this kind lady she broke down sobbing as she walked to the counter. The lady behind the counter left her post, came out to the line area, and held my friend as she sobbed. At the post office!

A Starbucks barista:

In the preparations and planning for the memorial service my friend ordered coffee from Starbucks. On the day of the service all the containers of coffee she ordered were already paid for.

Where is God in all of this? He’s in the people who are willing to show love and care for our fellow humanity in the world.

In Genesis, Chapter 14, Abram finds that his nephew Lot, who was like a son (this was before Abram and Sarai had any children) was captured during a battle of kings while Lot was living in Sodom. Abram put an “army” of men together. Scripture tells us in Genesis 14:16, “He [Abram] recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.”

This had to have been an excruciating time for Abram. And then Melchizedek king of Salem encourages Abram.

Genesis 14:18-20: “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’”

Comfort.

Care.

Love.

God.

As we go about our day let’s be willing to be God’s people who show comfort, care, and love. In this we will be God’s workmanship.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

– Ephesians 2:10

Love God. Love Others.

For more from Lucille Williams check out her books The Impossible Kid: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child with Love and Grace, and for your marriage, From Me to We, and The Intimacy You Crave. And Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6. We invite you to subscribe to LuSays today for weekly encouragement.