Twenty people were shot and killed at an elementary school in Uvalde Texas. Let us pray for the families during this horrific time. Let us appreciate everyday of life we have, because sadly it can be gone in an instant. When tragedy hits, a question many have is “Where is God?”

The problem of suffering will continue as long as the world exists. Questions about suffering will not go away. Christians and non-Christians alike struggle with the problem of suffering. Where is God when we hurt?

This question is not new. In the days of the Judges, Gideon essentially asked the same question in Judges 6:13. 

Then Gideon said to him, 'O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.'

Consider what Gideon said concerning God. He felt like God had abandoned His people. He couldn’t understand why bad things were happening if God was with them. He knew God is powerful but couldn’t understand why He wasn’t performing miracles. The angel of the LORD had appeared earlier to Gideon, Judges 6:12. He told Gideon that the LORD was with Him. But Gideon didn’t feel like God was. That is often the challenge for us. When we lose loved ones, when disease inflicts our bodies, or when other kinds of suffering hit, we can feel like God has abandoned us. How do we navigate difficult days of suffering? We must not allow our feelings to override what we know to be true. Facts over feelings. Our feelings can be both good and bad, so feelings can not be the standard. In days of suffering FACTS must override FEELINGS. But what facts?

  • We need to remember we’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus, Ephesians 1:7.
  • We need to remember Jesus is risen, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
  • We need to remember the dead in Christ will be with the Lord again, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.
  • We need to remember God’s word can bring us comfort, 1 Thessalonians 4:18.
  • We need to remember our suffering now is merely a light affliction compared to the things eternal that await us, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Therefore, we don’t lose heart.
  • We need to remember the Father allowed His Son to die on the cross, John 3:16. If the Father allowed His Son to endure suffering, He will allow us as His children to endure it as well.
  • We need to remember God will repay, Romans 12:17-19. The young souls in Uvalde died because of the actions of a wicked people. God will repay him accordingly. Justice may not come in this lifetime, but it will eventually come.

Our heavenly Father loves us. He is with us. He is the God of all comfort. Let us continue to turn to Him.