Where is God when I need Him? Is He the 911 Emergency God? Does He really hear my cry for help? Does He know, and does He care about my fears and feelings of desperation? Can He calm my storm? Can He save me?
These are excellent questions to ask, especially when the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps it has already slammed full force into your life or the life of a friend or colleague. Maybe at this point, you are still only seeing it in the news, but it’s getting closer, and you feel vulnerable and exposed to its power in one way or another.
A frequently searched Google question is, “Where is God when I need Him?” But the more important question is, “Where am I when I need God, and where have I been?” This post will explore that question.
But first, when it comes to God – which category are you in?
1. “There is no God.”
Would God ever listen to the cries of an agnostic or an atheist? If someone has argued against even the existence of a Creator or a God over the universe, what are their chances of being heard when they are afraid or hit rock bottom? Keep reading.
2. “There is probably a God somewhere, but He is remote and not involved with my life.”
If you think God is detached and disinterested in your reality and is highly unlikely to hear a prayer from you at this time, keep reading.
3. “I definitely believe in God, but up until now, I’ve left Him on the shelf.”
If you dug deep enough in your pile of personal possessions, you might find a Bible with your name on the inside. If you were asked to find Isaiah 53:5-6 or Romans 5:6 or John 3:16 – you would have no problem navigating your way through the Bible. You could still find those verses quite easily. But so much water has passed under the bridge. The years have flown by, and God has been on your back burner. You have managed quite nicely up to this point on your own. But now you are thinking about God every day. After taking a back seat in your life for so long, would He bother to reach out to you now in your distress? Keep reading.
4. “I say I l-o-v-e God, but in reality …”
Maybe you have said it. You are not alone. Many others have said it. “Of course, I love God! What kind of a person do you think I am?”
Many people are afraid to say they really do not love God in case He retaliates by being unresponsive to them in a crisis. So, making yourself believe you ‘love God’ offers you some hope that God will hear you when you call. But let’s be honest, is that really ‘love’?
Think of it this way: if you paid as much attention over the last year to your girlfriend or boyfriend, your partner, your spouse, or your child as you have paid to God during the same time period, what would they conclude about how much you love them?
Someone says: “I get your point, so if my love hasn’t really been that genuine, would God respond to my cry to Him now?” That question is answered below.
The Reality in Our World
Often, people only think about God when they can’t work things out themselves and when they’re afraid. Afraid of becoming one of those critically ill COVID-19 victims who require a scarce ventilator in an Intensive Care Unit. Afraid of financial ruin. Afraid of being caught for messing up badly. Afraid the growing lump may be cancer. Afraid a loved one is not going to make it. Afraid a daughter is becoming an addict. And the list goes on.
God is, for the most part, a swear word used lightly or mockingly every day. People, without thinking, post OMG. People punctuate their sentences with one of God’s names. If the weather is bad, they say, “We’re having some God-awful weather.” Rarely do they ever use their neighbour’s name when they want to swear in an outburst of anger. They use God’s name.
The sad reality is – often God can be totally ignored until a crisis happens. T
hen suddenly, we pick up the phone and call the 911 God and expect Him to come to our rescue.
How would you define your relationship with God up until now?
God is not obliged to respond to our calls and cries for special consideration. But so often, the goodness of God is shown when we least deserve it. Did you know that when God shows His goodness through acts of grace, He actually wants to lead you to repentance and to faith in His Son, Jesus? (Romans 2:4, The Bible)
Here is what you need to know right now: no matter what your relationship with God has been in the past, you can humbly come to God at this time in contrition and confession. Where is God when you need Him? He is very close to you. But where are you, and where have you been all along? You need to be open and honest about God when you call out to Him now.
For there is no distinction… the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: for, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:12-13 RV
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18 NLT
Jesus told a poignant story of a very religious man and a sinner who prayed. The religious person highlighted all his own personal credits in his prayer. The sinner, with his head humbly bowed, cried out: “God be merciful to me, the sinner.” Jesus said it was only the sinner who went home justified and right with God. (Luke 18:9-14)
Regardless of how a person has used God or regarded God in the past, God has made the first move to demonstrate His own amazing love for them – whether they ever reciprocate by loving Him in return or not. Read the Gospel of John, chapter 3 and verse 16 for a very concise statement on God’s love for you. Read the Gospel of John chapters 18 & 19 for a detailed account of the death Christ was willing to die for our sins – even when we were still sinners and enemies towards Him in our hearts.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8
There are many questions about our love for Him and how sincere we are. But one look at the suffering and innocent Christ on the Cross, enduring the horrible penalty our sins deserved forever, should be all we need to convince us of His love for us.
If you have quietly admitted in your heart that you have, in fact, been guilty of ignoring God or using God, would you like to rethink your relationship with Him? Would you like to turn to God just now and bow your heart before Him, admit the guilt of your sins, and trust Christ as your personal Saviour?
The Bible clearly states what Jesus promised:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can have an abundant and eternal life. Yes, He will hear your cry, care about your fears and feelings, calm your inner storm, and save you. Why not respond to God’s love today by loving Him in return?
If you would like to read the Gospel of John online, click here: http://www.esvbible.org/John+1/
