Scripture: Psalm 124:8 – “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (NRSVue)
There is a lot of stuff that happens in the Old Testament, as it covers at least a thousand years’ worth of history. But when seen as a whole, we notice certain patterns emerging. Whenever something good happens, it is because of the loving will of God. Whenever something bad happens, it is because of humans turning away from God. We can see this in stories as diverse as the Garden of Eden, the wars with the Philistines, and the fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
If we apply this view to our lives, it helps us to praise God for all the blessings we have received and reminds us that as long as we stay close to God’s will for love in the world, we will never move into catastrophe. But the reality is that catastrophe often finds its way into our lives regardless of our relationship with God. We must then ask, “Where is God in my suffering?”
One way of looking at things is to say that if something bad happens, God is against us. Suffering must be our fault. Now, sometimes it is, like if we lose the mortgage payment on sports betting. But other times the cause is not so clear. We figure we are being punished for something we did, but we do not know what. We obsess over what we might of have done and are filled with guilt and remorse. In such a situation, God can seem to be our enemy since we see God as the one who is responsible for punishing us or allow bad things to happen to us.
Another way of looking at things is that God is with us when bad things happen. Suffering is unavoidable, but with God we are able to endure it in ways we could not if we were by ourselves. Psalm 124 speaks of what would have happened to the people if God had not been with them. “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, … then the flood would have swept us away…” The enemy still attacked, whether because of God’s judgment or poor foreign policy or unavoidable misfortune. But they survived the attack because they recognized the presence of God with them. They were able through faith to find hope in a bad situation. And when they were able to endure, they could then thank God for their salvation. “Our help is in the name of the Lord,who made heaven and earth.”
About ten years ago, my wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She had been having problems with her thyroid at least as far back as college, and the problems had finally turned cancerous. I had to pray to God about this potential tragedy. Because of my faith, I did not blame God or decry my misfortune. I knew that these sorts of things happen to a lot of people. But I had faith that God would see us through, and if terrible things did happen, I knew that God would be with me. I was still anxious while waiting for test results, but I never panicked because I felt God beside me and my wife every step of the way. In the end, she had her thyroid removed and had a little radiation therapy. She has been cancer free since then.
So, when bad things do happen, make sure to be honest with yourself about what you could have done differently, but more importantly, look to God for support, for no matter what the situation, God will always be your friend and your help.
Prayer: Lord, preserve me against the troubles of life and guide me to a deeper understanding of your love. Amen.
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