Wounded Christians.com where was God

Jesus cured all of them. This was in fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench."

(Excerpted from Matthew 12:15-20, the Amplified Bible)

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Reflections:

Unplugged from church

Where was God when you cried out to Him?

Cassandra believed the popular Bible teacher when he promised that if a woman in a dangerous situation simply cried out to God, she would be protected. The teacher told convincing stories to back up the claim.

So when an assailant overtook Cassandra in a parking lot on a December night, she borrowed words from one of the women in the stories: "I'm God's property. You can't touch me!" The man just laughed and proceeded to violate her.

Cassandra eventually recovered from the physical trauma, but she still struggles with emotional wounds. Where was God during the attack? Why hadn't He come to her rescue as the Bible teacher had said He would? Could she even trust God anymore?

She still attends church, but she does so selectively. She has found a pastor who doesn't illustrate sermons with disturbing details. Guest speakers require more caution. If there's even a hint that details might be given about a physical attack or sexual abuse, Cassandra stays away. She can't risk allowing other people's stories to exhume her own humiliating memories. Especially in a crowd.

Perhaps you are like Cassandra. You wonder where God was when you cried out to Him. We certainly don't have all the answers here at Hope for Wounded Christians, but we do want you to know that you are not alone. Many others struggle with similar questions. Perhaps these three thoughts may help:

1. God has not abandoned you. When God does not meet our expectations concerning what He could have prevented or should have provided in our lives, it does not mean He hates us or was too busy to notice our desperation. Scripture declares that God's ways are higher than ours (see Isaiah 55:9). Just because we don't understand how God works is no reason to assume He does not care. The Bible is full of accounts of people whose painful experiences turned out far different than they ever imagined they would.

2. Remember that bad things often happen to good people on this sin-plagued planet. While testimonies abound about supernatural rescues, the Bible does not promise we will be protected without exception. Yes, Psalm 91, the wonderful Hebrew poem full of comforting promises, is as fully inspired by the Holy Spirit as is the rest of Scripture. But chapter 11 of Hebrews is also God-breathed, and after telling about people who suffered many reverses, the book's author declares, "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised" (Hebrews 11:39 NIV). Sometimes we won't know the answers until we reach heaven.

3. While God does not plan the evil things that happen to us, He is expert at bringing good out of bad situations (see Genesis 50:20). Many people who have risked trusting God again by offering Him their hurtful situations have received astonishing treasures in return.

Remember, you are not alone, and God can bring good out of your painful experiences.

Prayer: Gracious God, we pray You'll bring comfort to the wounded people who visit this page today. Help them trust You enough to offer up the shards of their lives so they can be made whole again. Amen.

(Name and identifying details have been changed.)