Some people view God as an observer of our lives. Yes, God is watching us, but for many, this thought is more frightening than comforting. The question each person must eventually answer is: “Where is God in all this chaos around us?” Like David (in Psalm 22:1), we sometimes cry out to the heavens: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”
Some people say we live in the “era of loneliness.” The internet has made it possible to interact with strangers without ever leaving our homes. Faceless individuals become our friends. YouTube and Facebook are our gathering places. Our high fences may keep out intruders, but they also isolate us from one another. We trust no one anymore. We live lonely lives. It is perhaps no surprise that people living in the “era of anxiety” (see #12-13) and in the “era of loneliness” start to question God. We feel abandoned by God.
It was then that I reread Deuteronomy 33. This is Moses’ last conversation with his fellow Israelites. The promised land finally lies before them. But then Moses, their leader, informs them that he will not be going any further with them. What now? Did God bring them this far only to leave them to fend for themselves? Leaderless. Abandoned by God. No, says Moses, “There is no one like God; He rides across the heavens to help you, and in His majesty, He rides on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
C.S. Lewis once said, “We can ignore Him, but we can nowhere evade His presence. The world is crowded with Him.” We live with God’s arms around us. That is my comfort.
PRAYER: In my fear and in my loneliness, I hold onto this promise, my Lord: I am in Your arms.
MUSIC:
We watch a video of Moses Hogan’s “Abide with Me” performed by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Contemporary Vocal Ensemble.