Where Were You?

‘But I wonder, where were you? When I was at my worst, down on my knees? And you said you had my back, so I wonder where were you?’

If you listen to pop music, you know these are lyrics from the song ‘Maps’ by Maroon 5. It’s a song that has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m going to write about, but just stay with me here for a minute.

Right now, there are a lot of people hurting about a lot of things. Perhaps something fairly recent, or something that happened a long time ago.

It could have been the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, your health, financial well-being…anything. Whatever it might have been, the hurt is still there and along with it, frustration and even anger.

Sometimes, traumatic or significantly stressful events can lead to a loss of faith and a turn away from God. After all, where were you God? When I was at my worst, down on my knees? Why would you do something like that? If you really loved me, why did you make me sick or take that person away from me? Why me? Why don’t you listen to me? How could you let that happen?

I love God deeply…but I would be lying if I said I’ve never thought these types of things in the past. I can remember nights yelling at God, being upset about my circumstances, and wondering why it seemed like He wasn’t doing anything or why He wasn’t listening.

Let’s face it, there are times when it can feel like God’s just not there.

But He is there, and the reason for writing this post is to encourage anyone who’s experienced something difficult that is testing your faith or that has even caused you to throw your hands up with God.

Things don’t always make sense. Life is definitely not ‘fair’ as we would call it. I am not trying to minimize the pain you are experiencing, nor can I understand exactly how you’re feeling or what you’re going through.

But I can speak from personal experience in saying that, God will lift you up when you can’t lift yourself up. He will bring you out of valleys and let you stand on top of mountains. He will never, ever give up on you and He does have a good plan for your life. These aren’t just feel-good words to fill up a blog post…it’s the truth.

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

So I’d just encourage you today to reach out to God, whether it’s been a long time or if you never have. It doesn’t mean things will magically get better right away. He’s not a genie in a bottle who just grants wishes. But God does listen to our prayers. He hears the cries of the brokenhearted. And, He will get you through whatever you’re going through.

Psalm 107:6
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

And if you never have before, you don’t have to be an ordained minister or know the ‘right words’ to pray – just talk to God. He will hear you.

If you want/need someone to pray for you, I would love to do that. Either leave a comment below or if you’d prefer to stay anonymous, just click the ‘Contact’ link at the top of my blog and email me.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this today. Have a great day and remember, God loves you!

Shout Praises

Powerful stuff. Some of these verses are really meaningful to me. Perhaps there are a few that you can find meaning in as well. Have a good day everyone.

Psalm 107

¹Shout praises to the LORD!

   He is good to us,

   and his love never fails.

    ²Everyone the LORD has rescued

   from trouble

   should praise him,

    ³everyone he has brought

   from the east and the west,

   the north and the south.

⁴Some of you were lost

   in the scorching desert,

   far from a town.

    ⁵You were hungry and thirsty

   and about to give up.

    ⁶You were in serious trouble,

   but you prayed to the LORD,

   and he rescued you.

    ⁷Right away he brought you

   to a town.

    ⁸You should praise the LORD

   for his love

   and for the wonderful things

   he does for all of us.

    ⁹To everyone who is thirsty,

   he gives something to drink;

   to everyone who is hungry,

   he gives good things to eat.

    ¹⁰Some of you were prisoners

   suffering in deepest darkness

   and bound by chains,

    ¹¹because you had rebelled

   against God Most High

   and refused his advice.

    ¹²You were worn out

   from working like slaves,

   and no one came to help.

    ¹³You were in serious trouble,

   but you prayed to the LORD,

   and he rescued you.

    ¹⁴He brought you out

   of the deepest darkness

   and broke your chains.

    ¹⁵You should praise the LORD

   for his love

   and for the wonderful things

   he does for all of us.

    ¹⁶He breaks down bronze gates

   and shatters iron locks.

    ¹⁷Some of you had foolishly

   committed a lot of sins

   and were in terrible pain.

    ¹⁸The very thought of food

   was disgusting to you,

   and you were almost dead.

    ¹⁹You were in serious trouble,

   but you prayed to the LORD,

   and he rescued you.

    ²⁰By the power of his own word,

   he healed you

   and saved you

   from destruction.

    ²¹You should praise the LORD

   for his love

   and for the wonderful things

   he does for all of us.

    ²²You should celebrate

   by offering sacrifices

   and singing joyful songs

   to tell what he has done.

    ²³Some of you made a living

   by sailing the mighty sea,

    ²⁴and you saw the miracles

   the LORD performed there.

    ²⁵At his command a storm arose,

   and waves covered the sea.

    ²⁶You were tossed to the sky

   and to the ocean depths,

   until things looked so bad

   that you lost your courage.

    ²⁷You staggered like drunkards

   and gave up all hope.

    ²⁸You were in serious trouble,

   but you prayed to the LORD,

   and he rescued you.

    ²⁹He made the storm stop

   and the sea be quiet.

    ³⁰You were happy because of this,

   and he brought you to the port

   where you wanted to go.

    ³¹You should praise the LORD

   for his love

   and for the wonderful things

   he does for all of us.

    ³²Honor the LORD

   when you

   and your leaders

   meet to worship.

    ³³If you start doing wrong,

   the LORD will turn rivers

   into deserts,

    ³⁴flowing streams

   into scorched land,

   and fruitful fields

   into beds of salt.

    ³⁵But the LORD can also turn

   deserts into lakes

   and scorched land

   into flowing streams.

    ³⁶If you are hungry,

   you can settle there

   and build a town.

    ³⁷You can plant fields

   and vineyards

   that produce

   a good harvest.

    ³⁸The LORD will bless you

   with many children

   and with herds of cattle.

    ³⁹Sometimes you may be crushed

   by troubles and sorrows,

   until only a few of you

   are left to survive.

    ⁴⁰But the LORD will take revenge

   on those who conquer you,

   and he will make them wander

   across desert sands.

    ⁴¹When you are suffering

   and in need,

   he will come to your rescue,

   and your families will grow

   as fast as a herd of sheep.

    ⁴²You will see this because

   you obey the LORD,

   but everyone who is wicked

   will be silenced.

    ⁴³Be wise! Remember this

   and think about the kindness

   of the LORD.