We have all witnessed someone we love experience something so difficult.
A hard-working, loving, and adoring mother has to bury her child after a long battle with cancer; a beautiful family loses their home to a fire; a local police officer and hero loses his life on the job, leaving an entire family and community mourning his death.
Sometimes, bad things happen to good people.
When this happens, whether it be to us or to someone we love, we cry out, " God, where are you?". We cry. We scream. We are angry. Angry words flood our mouths and we are hateful towards God... "God, where are you?"
I too was once angry with the Lord. I shouldn't even just say "once", because there have been many times where I have been at a loss for words because I have been so angry with Him.
When I was eleven years old, my mother- the woman I admired most in the entire world- went to the hospital and thus began one of the hardest times in my life. She suffered multiple strokes and was left severely disabled because of them. One day she is a healthy, hardworking, dedicated and driven person- the next, she is given less than a 2% chance of survival. One day I had what I thought was the "perfect" life, and the next, everything changed.
My mother is a good person. I am a good person. Why did this happen to her, why did this happen to my family?
I remember crying out in anger to God. I spent about four years angry with Him, until a retreat changed my life and taught me to run to Him instead.
Soon enough, I noticed that God was with me the entire time. He never left. He never ignored my prayers. He never abandoned me, even when everyone else did. He never gave up on me. He was always there. He heard my prayers, but didn't give me the answers I thought I wanted.
Back then, I couldn't see what God was doing in my life. I couldn't see that God was giving me a reason to run to Him. He was strengthening me and teaching me important and valuable life lessons. I had to grow up at such a young age. Some pitied me, but God knew that I could handle it and that in the long run, I would be better off. God wasn't punishing me, He was doing the exact opposite.
He gave me these hardships to overcome and rewarded me with more blessings than I could ever count.
Yes, something bad happened to me and my mom; good people. Although I didn't initially turn to God in my difficult times, I eventually found my way to Him and realized that it is only through Him that all blessings flow.
If you're going through a difficult time and wondering where God is, I want you to turn to prayer and realize He is right beside you. This world will do everything to try and convince you that He has abandoned you, but I promise you-- He never has and He never will.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." -Deuteronomy 31:6
