Where Was God When - By Pastor Allan

Where was God when…
We ask that question a lot! After a tragedy. When our prayers are not answered the way we hoped. When we try our best and yet we see others prosper more than we do. When family members make choices that lead to pain and grief. When a loved one dies. When a friend turns against us.

The “where was God when” questions have a common thread . . . disappointment with God! Disappointment that God did not meet our expectations. Disappointment that God did not respond the way we wanted Him to respond. Disappointment that God did not intervene and cause a different outcome.

Too often our disappointment with God is rooted in our self-centeredness. We do not recognize that Jesus is Lord and King. Instead we expect Him to respond as our servant. Like God’s people in the time of Jesus, we only call on God when we have a need (John 6:26) rather than develop a close relationship with Him during the course of our lives on this earth.

Perhaps we just don’t get it… and we expect Jesus to be someone he is not. Just like there is a difference between viewing Jesus as our servant rather than our King, there is also a big difference between viewing Jesus as a King among Kings rather than the King of Kings. It’s the difference between a good option to follow on the road to heaven and the only way to heaven.
And so we pick and choose among the gods around us based on what we prefer at any particular moment. But somehow our disappointment seems to be with the God who is over all even when we chose to pursue other gods or hope for things that the God of the universe never promised!

Unfortunately we quickly end up with a relationship with Jesus that is solely based on what He does for us. And we evaluate what Jesus does for us based on our selfish desires. Our wants. What seems best in our own eyes.

We forget that as the King of Kings, God’s purpose is greater than ours. That’s true whether we are His disciples or not. Whether we choose to obey or disobey. God’s purpose is always first in how God responds to us. Not our wants. Not even our needs!

Jesus declared His purpose early in His ministry when He returned home to Nazareth. 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19 – NKJV)."

What are your biggest disappointments in God?

Take a moment to consider God’s purpose is for your life. What does Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, expect from you? Then commit yourself to pursue God’s purpose with all that is within you. If you do, you won’t be disappointed!