Colorado is a land of majesty and beauty, but also a harsh, rugged, and formidable landscape.
In the early settlement days, the rugged terrain and the harsh winters were so brutal and unforgiving that even imagining the possibility of a mile high city rising up from the Rocky Mountain foothills must have made those settlers chuckle and shake their heads in disbelief.
160 years later, the Colorado landscape is still a wild and unpredictable force of nature, but an equally magnificent city called Denver has sprung up on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
And for all of us who live here, it is just as beautiful and engaging as the wildlife that surrounds it. From the Wells Fargo Building to Union Station to the Denver Art Museum to the State Capitol Building, who would have thought that the little mining town of Denver would become such a vibrant city?
Sometimes life doesn’t turn out like you expect. I’ve found this to be true not only in the stories of friends, family, people I meet wherever we travel, but also in my own life. I’ve struggled with issues in every category—from finances to faith to physical ailments—that have left me wondering, “Where are you God?”
I think it’s a question all of us wrestle with at some point in our lives. Sometimes it’s the death and suffering of a loved one. Other times it’s the personal crisis we face. But sooner or later we can’t help but wonder, “God, where are you?”
If anyone had reason to struggle with the question, it was Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob.
Every step of his life, Joseph was justified in asking, “Where are you God?” and “Do you even care?”
Yet it was through the difficult journey that Joseph discovered God was with him every step of the way. It’s through all of these heart wrenching and unexplainable situations that bring Joseph to the place where he can rescue his family, those whose descendants will become the 12 tribes of Israel.
Joseph’s story reminds me that no matter what God takes us through, He is still present. [Tweet this]
Though there are times we look at life and circumstances and throw our hands up in the air, wondering, “Where are you God?”
Make no mistake.
He is there both in the palaces and in the prisons, in the years of feast and the years of famine.
Sometimes life doesn’t turn out like you expect, and the story of Joseph reminds us that sometimes, that’s a good thing!
Just like for Joseph, sometimes waiting on the promises of God requires years of waiting and hardship, but we must remember that God is with us every step of the way. [Tweet this]
This week we dove into Genesis 37-50.
FOR DISCUSSION: Answer the following questions as a comment to this blog post. Feel free to ask questions, reply to others’ comments, and post prayer requests.
- Where have you seen God’s love most clearly displayed in Genesis? In your own life?
Link up your blog post on what God is revealing to you in His Word.
Don’t miss out on the Midday Connection Podcast interview as we chat through Session Six at 12PM Central today. Click here, to subscribe to their podcast each week.
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Interested in a fresh DVD Bible study curriculum this fall? Email sampler@margaretfeinberg.com to receive access to a complimentary DVD sampler featuring video and PDF samples of popular DVD Bible studies.
This week I’ve been privileged to see how The Lord has been at work in my life the past few years. Five years ago, He told me to do less. I struggled to understand, but I didn’t know what I should give up. Then last year my job jumped from half- to full-time, I developed some health problems that decreased my energy and ability to manage stress, and things at my job became VERY stressful–to the extent that I was having anxiety attacks at the thought of even going. In the midst of that Lent arrived and I took the 40-Day Challenge to read the whole Bible. It became my refuge. When it was done, I slowly drifted back to my much shorter habit. Over time it became apparent to me that my sanity totally depended on spending a consistent period of time every day with The Lord. I committed to spending an hour a day with him. I heard from The Lord that He considered that to be “tithing” my time. This week I was informed that my job had returned to half-time and I realized that all of the mess of last year was to drive me closer to Him, the one thing I needed to be “doing” all along.
When God asks us to “do less,” it’s so difficult. Our culture loves to measure success by how much we can pack into one day. SO thrilled that spending time in the Word and carving out time in prayer has been such a refuge for you, Elisa. Continue chasing after him.
Thanks Margaret. It was while doing your “Sacred Echo” study four years ago that I first heard those instructions from The Lord. And they have been echoing ever since. Since my to-do list can turn into my god, it is a good idea. Do you think God knows what He is doing? 🙂
How are you doing? I don’t mean to pry, but I feel like I “know” you. (We did meet in person once at CreationFest ’09.) so answer as is comfortable for you.
I just can’t accept that someone who “loves” you, like God supposily does, lets you suffer alone (because, if you don’t feel him or see him working, you feel alone) for years and years.
I can’t trust him, because I can only pray without answers for so long.
I’m convinced that he hates me and like to see me suffer.
Sweet Ambar, I think so many resonate with the pain and alone-ness that you’re feeling. In the midst of trials, we can ask so many WHY questions… WHY me? WHY now? WHY this?
And often, we won’t ever hear the answers. Even in the midst of my current battle, I find myself asking the same questions.
But instead, God is responding with why NOT you? why NOT now? why NOT this?
As my questions continue to go unanswered, I find myself wondering, “Where are you, God? I can’t see you or feel you in the midst of this.”
And his response was a gentle whisper: “You know my heartbeat.”
Praying for you, Ambar. That in the midst of the unknown, in the midst of the alone-ness you feel, that you can cling to the heartbeat of God– the truths you do know to be true about him. And may he wow and astound you with himself like you could never imagine.
Sweet Ambar, can I recommend that you read chapter 2 in Wonderstruck? I dive deep into this same idea.
Perfect response! I agree. It is like when someone is drowning Is there a “God” time to rescue him? NOPE, there are just two times; Acting in time to save him from drowning or waiting until he has drowned. There is NO in between, and there isn’t for God. And there is NO REASON to wait, either for us to save the drowning person, or for Him to help those who are struggling. I am so very tired of excuses being made for why God can, nay, MUST act more slowly and less helpfully than even a sinful human like me. Try again, Margaret.
It’s tough. I know for certain that there are times that God waits so that we will absolutely know that it is him that is our refuge and savior. He is not praised and worshiped like he should be and way too many people get their miracle and then look in the mirror and thank themselves for it everyday. Those who persevere until the end will not be disappointed. The people who watch God deliver life back to you will pat you on the back and applaud your tenacity in delivering yourself. To this we say that we only persevered in waiting on God and he delivered the restoration. I lost a daughter 20 years ago and raged at God when I read Job and how God restored him giving him new children. How dare God think he could restore a person by replacing a child. I came to understand that it is God that restores and the heart will never leave my heart for the one I lost, but the joy for the five I have is overwhelming. Persevere and know that He is God… and he loves you.
Thank you for sharing, Jason. Hugs!
I have prayed, fasted and waited on God only for my husband to keep cheating on me and bringing his women so close to our home that everyone sees me as a fool. Now he has one from work. God I tried, but I have become the laughing matter. If I didn’t know better I would have taken my life. God why have you forsaken me and my children? I’m not sure if I still have faith or I’m in it because I have nowhere else to go
Lyn, Praying for you right now. I’m so sorry you’re going through this battle. I would recommend seeing a Christian counselor. Hug to you, Margaret