When God 'Fails' You...

There is a new wave of realism about faith and life.

For example, a recent popular title exclaims:  Everything Happens For A Reason, And Other Lies I Have Believed -- a book I've not read (thus, cannot endorse/recommend) -- but illustrative of a rash of recent writings, brutally honest, borne-out of a writers own first-hand pain.

Frankly, I believe God applauds brutal honesty, even, honest doubt, about His presence and promises.  For it was God's idea to put His Treasure in earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7ff) -- and part of 'owning' the earthen vessel, is 'owning,' that at times, the Treasure feels faint, not apparent, at least on an experiential, emotional level.

I have had seasons of earth and 'little Treasure.' At least it felt like 'little Treasure.' Translated: I've had episodes when God felt far, non-attentive, seeming to 'abandon' me.  

I remember one string of calamities, so repetitive, so searing, that Robin cried out in fear, that we were about to loose everything.

The details aren't important. What's important is that I do not write out of theory, but my own personal acquaintance with suffering and doubt regarding the faithfulness of God.  

And so the convictions I share, are not mere theory, but milestones in my own journey of both honesty and resolve, as I seek to move forward with God -- nevertheless -- in spite of suffering and sadness.  

Milestone #1 - Just Because You're 'Good,' Doesn't Make You Immune To 'Bad.'  

We really do live in a fallen world.  Bacteria, viruses, pollution, radiation, infections surround us daily -- along with the deadliest culprit of all:  sin.   

Given such an intensity of deadly infiltration, it's a miracle we can even read these words; the odds are that stacked against us! Yet, in God's grace, we're spared segments of the deadly stuff, given instead, episodes of abundant life.  

Nevertheless, as Job discloses, we often feel like -- “Mortals, born of woman...of few days...full of trouble.." (Job 14:1).  I mean, in spite of episodes of abundant life/grace, there are seasons when it seems as if there is nothing more than abundant pain, and 'abandonment.'  Prophet Habakkuk relates: 

"...How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me;  there is strife, and conflict abound.  Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted..."  (Habakkuk 1:2-4, emphasis added)

Every felt that way?  If not, you will.  For part of living in a fallen, infection-riddled, sin-stained world -- is the inevitability of getting stained, as well.  

Milestone #2 - Though God Allows Suffering, God Isn't Captive To Suffering, But Redeems Suffering.  

I don't know, fully, why God allows suffering.   It certainly was not His original intent, in creating the world (Genesis 1).  Yet, God allowed our rebellion, in the beginning, and dis-ease/sin resulted (Genesis 3).  

But in allowing pain, God is not masochistic, relishing in pain.  Rather, God takes extreme measures to mount a loving mission to rescue us in our calamity, determined to restore us.  

Translated:  in the midst of our most horrific tragedy, God is working (even though we're often not aware) to 'make all things new.'   Paul 'nets this out' vividly in Romans 8:

"...In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own....[For our] hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!  (Romans 8:18-21, Phillips)

And so, no matter the pain, the horror, the 'abandonment' -- God is present, 'working' all things new.  

There's a classic story about the development of Cherokee boys.  Traditionally, a Cherokee boy rises to manhood, by being taken into the forest to a remote site, where his father blindfolds him and apparently leaves him.  It is a rite of passage 'test,' requiring the Cherokee boy to sit on a log all night, retaining his blindfold, until morning comes.  If he survives the night, the Cherokee boy is then considered a man.  Not surprisingly, the boy is terrified.  As one writer describes it:  

"...Being in the dark and blindfolded, his mind plays tricks on him. As the wind blows the grass and trees, he hears all kinds of noises. He thinks wild animals must surely be all around him. But he must sit still, no matter what, and never remove the blindfold. This is the only way he can become a man..." http://www.myredeemerlives.com/fatherwatches.html

But finally, the night is over and the sun appears, and the Cherokee boy removes his blindfold.  And then the surprise:  without his knowledge, the boy's father had stayed within reach, remaining with him throughout the night, nevertheless protecting him, from anything destined to do final harm.

Like a Cherokee father, our Heavenly Father, is present, nevertheless, even in our episodes of deepest darkness and anguished abandonment.  

Milestone #3 -- Time Is Our Biggest Challenge, For God's Time Is Not Our Time.  

Those who know me well, aren't surprised by this affirmation; I've written a whole book on the topic, now moving toward publication (I pray!).  But in sum:  In God's good time, God does make all things new.  But it takes time, God's time, and God's time is often longer than any of us desire.  But the promise of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3 is accurate and truth-full:  

"...God makes everything happen at the right time. Yet none of us can ever fully understand all he has done, and...[so questions arise]...in our minds about the past and the future..."  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Milestone #4 --  God Will Never Abandon Us, Though, For A Season (Or More) We Abandon God. 

Still not convinced, about God's presence -- even -- in pain?

Believe me:  I 'get it.'  For only those who have never encountered unspeakable tragedy and loss, think trusting God comes easily, when God seems to 'fail' us.

But the best reality of the God who seems to 'fail' us, is the God who -- in fact -- is faithful. And the God who is faithful -- is even faithful -- when we push Him aside.

And so, if you are still angry, confused toward God -- God understands.

And so, no matter how far we remove ourselves from God, God keeps pursuing us.  The classic words of the Psalmist are unflinching:

"...Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you..." Psalm 139:7-12).

I have always loved Francis Thompson's poem, The Hound Of Heaven.  Through this magnificent round of prose, Thompson anticipates, like the psalmist, there will be season/s when we perceive God 'absent.'   And so we flee.  But God pursues, in the imagery of Thompson, like the great 'hound of heaven.'

It is my prayer, that if you are far from God, you will know that God is not far, even if you move far from Him.

In fact, God is pursuing you, relentless in His love, understanding your anger and despair -- but -- longing, that some day, you will allow His embrace, in spite of your angst.

Thompson depicts our journey...

“...I fled him down the nights and down the days...I fled Him down the arches of the years.  I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind and in the midst of tears I hid from him…"Still with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace. Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, Came on the ‘following feet’ -- and a Voice -- above their beat…" –

The voice, the feet?  God’s Voice and God’s feet, in hot pursuit of each of us!

• No matter the doubt...
• No matter the despair...
• No matter the despondency...

God's voice and 'feet' -- pursue.

And so, when God 'fails' -- 

• Be honest...brutally, freely...

But someday, (it does take time) ...

• Be aware...that God is with you, and for you, nevertheless -- in spite of the mystery. 

For the God who 'fails' -- is, in Truth -- the God who is Faithful!