Well, there’s nothing to celebrate in the two announcements we’ve just heard. It’s all sadness upon sadness. Yes, we have been through a really hard time.
The title this morning is, “Why, God?” Why do you allow us to go through such difficulties? Asking God why in times of trial is a biblical practice. Here are some examples from the book of Psalms:
- I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?” – Psalm 42:9
- Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? – Psalm 10:1
- My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? – Psalm 22:1
- Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction . . . ? – Psalm 44:24
God allows us to go through really hard times as individuals and as congregations. So difficult that it seems like God is far away, while we suffer and struggle. But I want to encourage you this morning, by reminding you of five things about the God we serve.
1. God loves us
To be more specific, God loves Cedar Street. Paul says in Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Paul’s point is that if God has already given us his Son to die on the cross to show his love for us, we can be sure that his love to us is secure and will continue. If he has already given that which is most precious to him, he will for sure show us his love in lesser situations.
And just because we are going through hard times doesn’t change this. Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:35, 37 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Brothers and sisters, don’t fear. God loves us in the midst of our trials.
2. God knows all about our situation
God has not been caught unaware by any of this.
It may seem like God is far away, as the Psalmists say, because of our troubles. But God knows every detail of what is going on, and every detail of all the pain that has been experienced by each one of us. The psalmist writes in Psalm 56 about his trials, talking about his enemies – “5All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps . . .” He has some serious problems.
But then he goes on to say to God, “8You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” God knows all about it. In the same way, God knows all of our sleeplessness, all of our tears, all of our distress. They are in his book. There is a careful record of our pain and suffering.
Sisters and brothers, don’t be afraid. God knows what we are going through.
3. God is in control
Let me read some excerpts from Isaiah 44:6-8 – Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel . . . “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? . . . Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it?”
God has a plan from of old. That’s why he can declare what is yet to come. And it includes each one of us in this congregation.
Don’t think that God is scrambling or that God has to scrap his purpose and plan for us. God knew we would be here today, going through what we are going through. And God is so great that he can even use the actions of those who oppose him or our own failures to accomplish his plans. You can’t thwart God, you can only decide if you want to be a part of what he is doing and be blessed, or not.
I believe that going through our recent difficulties has conditioned us and put us in a place to be able to receive what God wants for us.
Don’t be overwhelmed. God has a purpose and a plan in all this.
4. God always works for our good
A part of God’s plan is that he uses our pain and suffering; he redeems it so that good can come of it. Paul says in Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God’s heart and purpose is that good can come of our trials, for us and others.
Don’t be afraid. God can bring something amazing out of all this.
5. God is able to handle things
Jesus said in Mark 10:27 – “All things are possible with God.”
When we are in a trial, it’s hard to see this. All we see is the bad. We want to say, “yes, God you can accomplish anything, but look at this and look at that.” But God is able to accomplish all that God purposes. And so we should pray, “God we know you can do it. Bring forth your will.”
- Can not the one who created all things out of nothing bless and help us?
- Can not the one who brought a group of slaves out of the empire of Egypt save us?
- Can not the one who raised Jesus from the dead bring new life to us?
In all of this I am encouraging you not to fear. Or to say it positively, Have faith in God!
We can’t always answer the question why God lets us go through things. But we can answer the question of who; who our God is. We serve a God:
- who loves us
- who knows all about our pain
- who is in control and has a plan
- who always works for our good
- and who is able to accomplish his will
And so because of who God is, we can move forward in faith.
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