A pastoral Christian letter exploring how, in times of personal pain and questioning, one can be encouraged to find God
He is all around you and leaves you many clues in the flight of a bird, the fragrance of a flower and the smile of a friend. Even if the mist comes down on you after a mountain top experience, God is at hand for ‘darkness is as light’ with Him (Psalm 139).
– if you’re experiencing personal pain and questioning “where is God?”, this Booster is for you…
Dear Kyle,
You ask a question that so many have asked: ‘Where is God?’ From what you say, it seems that you ask this from a place of genuine searching prompted by a very personal sense of pain in disappointment. This is something that is common to all sincere pilgrims on life’s journey.
‘We’re all pilgrims on the same journey – but some pilgrims have better road maps’ – Nelson DeMille
Fellow Pilgrims
A pilgrim is someone who is looking to make sense of life and find the answer to your question, ‘Where is God?’ That would make you a pilgrim Kyle, along with many others.
People will sometimes take time out for a special pilgrimage such as the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James). The thing is, you don’t have to make a special journey to come across God for He is always surprisingly close, even when we can’t see or hear Him. He often turns up in unexpected way during everyday life as you can see from a few biblical examples:
- Moses – tending sheep and not thinking about God when he encounters Him (Genesis 3)
- Jonah – running away from God when he hears Him speaking to him (Jonah 1)
- Jacob – encounters God when trying to get to sleep in a vivid dream (Genesis 28)
- Cleopas and another disciple walking away in disbelief and disappointment after Jesus’ crucifixion – the risen Jesus joins them but it takes them a while to recognise Him as they were not expecting Him (Luke 24)
There are many others such as a woman at a well drawing water, a woman grieving for her son, two sisters wondering why Jesus hadn’t shown up to heal their brother and John who had been exiled to an island as punishment for following Jesus.
Setting Your Heart
There’s quite a bit in the Bible that speaks about the highways of our heart. I guess what I’m saying, Kyle, is that although it can be a physical journey, what is more important is to set your heart right – if you point it towards finding God, He will not disappoint you.
‘Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage’ – Psalm 84:5
Where is God?
He is all around you and leaves you many clues in the flight of a bird, the fragrance of a flower and the smile of a friend. Even if the mist comes down on you after a mountain top experience, God is at hand for ‘darkness is as light’ with Him (Psalm 139). Then there’s the time of the dark valley: ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me’ (Psalm 23:4).
Sometimes, God reveals Himself to us through other people. The supreme thing He did is sent us His Son in the person of Jesus to meet all our needs – you can see this all through the New Testament. Then God sent His Holy Spirit to be alongside us in our highs and lows, to guide, comfort and teach us.
A prayer to help
Dear God,
I need to know that you are there, especially in the times when you seem far away. You promise that I will find you if I seek you with all my heart so please come close to me. You know what I’m struggling with and how much I need you – I’m in your hands.
Amen
Talk with a Christian friend
Kyle, God will not play ‘hide and seek’ with you. He wants you to be close to Him and to share your life with Him.
‘I love those who love me and those who seek me find me’ – (Proverbs 8:17 NIV)
‘The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth’ – (Psalm 145:18 ESV)
I hope this is helpful … Your friend and fellow pilgrim,
Oggy
PS – this may help: https://connect4life.org.uk/c4l-boosters/i-and-thou/
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