Where is God?
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. This is the title of a 1970’s coming of age novel written by Judy Blume. Lacking instruction of any kind by her parents in organized religion, the sixth grader Margaret is on an independent quest to make sense of big pre-teen complexities. I love the innocence and sincerity with which she eventually develops a relationship with God through humble inquiries that begin with these simple words: “Are you there, God?” In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis mentions that, “In Christianity, God is not a static thing…but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life.” There is nowhere that God is not and yet that doesn’t stop us from trying really hard to run away or hide from God. But there He is, still present in every aspect of our lives. He never takes a day off. God is with His people when they enter exile as well as when they face life’s mundane moments and emergencies. He is always here, working out front and behind the scenes, in ways we cannot see, to accomplish His will in spite of us and with us to the degree that we obey. Though the offense grieves His heart, God always leaves a remnant during times when His people drift into worshipping other gods.
Sociologists who teach at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Texas at San Antonio, respectively, Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton coined the term “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” (MDT) to reference a growing trend where people imagine God as distant and therapeutic in nature, who helps humanity according to what it identifies as needs and that’s it. The idolatry of self-reliance saturates not only secular culture, but it has likewise sprayed its graffiti along the walls of churches across Western civilization. We tend to ask, “Where is God?” only when something negative occurs or hardship arrives at our doorstep. This question is often offered from a place of arrogant hypercriticism. It is interesting that we don’t hear people as readily say, “Where is God?” after receiving news of admittance to the top college of their choice or upon holding their newborn baby for the first time. On the drive back home from our parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, we aren’t likely to ponder, “Where is God?” If you read Jeremiah 2:6, it is easy to see that like the Israelites, we are easily manipulated to believe in God’s authority so long as life is chugging along with relative ease. But the minute trouble comes, we come undone and charge God with being absent or mean, or both.
It seems to me that the culprit is a misplaced identity. We treasure that which is harmful and incorrect, which then leads us to confuse comfort, milestones, and accolades with the presence of God. God accurately accuses the Israelites of committing adultery against Him and yet pleads with them to repent and return to Him. God declares: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? I am the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28) While we are unreliable and life changes at a moment’s notice, God is perfectly constant. Our eyes and hearts drift. My selfish ambition leads me astray. Pride and independence beckon me to chase after foolery. And they all prey upon my twisted understandings.
Contrary to popular slogans and water-downed sermons, true Christian faith is not based on good vibrations. To understand following Jesus as the equivalent of joining a spiritual country club couldn’t be further from the truth. The cross of Christ isn’t about enjoying prosperity or comfort, or ooey gooey, lovey-dovey emotions all the time. God has not promised anyone that a life devoted to Him will be untouched by suffering or calamity. It is a rational choice to believe Jesus Christ and all that he represents. God’s presence in the world and in our lives is not determined by our feelings or disappointments, any more than by moments of triumph and fulfillment. So many Christians have been lulled to sleep by associating the movement of God with sensationalism and empty worship. As an entirely sovereign being, God is God forever and everywhere. As Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) God isn’t rendered flaky because misfortune transpires. We must be reminded often, over and over again, that God, in His goodness, is not like us.
God’s desire is that we cry-out to Him for help. He doesn’t even mind hearing our endless complaints. We are wise to humbly come before Him, asking that He help us better see and value His character when life gets tough. Better to lay down your arrogance and turn away from idolatry’s idealism, than to continue disobediently bowing to other gods. You can’t merely pluck out or cherry-pick biblical texts that seem to soothe whatever issue we are facing. The Word of God may not necessarily answer every question you have in every instance. Nevertheless, God speaks to us constantly, never failing to instruct us about who He really is. We are a forgetful people; all of us. And unlearning lies in order to begin digesting truths about God is a demanding process, not for the faint of heart—but like always, God is faithful. As the Lord Almighty, He is and remains a champion for justice and restoration. Like Margaret, who had stopped talking to God for a while, we, too, will hopefully be able to say in due time, “I know you’re there, God. I know you wouldn't have missed this for anything! Thank you, God. Thanks an awful lot…”