Before
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. – Deuteronomy 31:8
Amidst a difficult season when everything gets thrown into disarray, when God is seemingly silent, do you question if God is still with you?
Even the Lord Jesus Christ himself cried out those desperate words in anguish “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), the very same words penned by King David in Psalm 22.
From man’s perspective, the death of Jesus on the cross appeared to be utter defeat. Onlookers mocked Jesus, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! ...Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him” (Matthew 27:42) If I were there, I can imagine myself exclaiming “God, this is the best time to show that You are really God! Surely this is not too difficult for you. Why are You not doing anything?”
But God was doing something. Something far greater and bigger than we can humanly comprehend or imagine.
From God’s perspective, the death of Jesus on the cross was a necessary part of His story. For God’s salvation plan to unfold, Jesus had to bear our sin, and face judgment on our behalf. Without His death, there would be no resurrection. What appeared to be defeat was actually God’s complete victory over sin and death. What appeared to be a terrible act of injustice happening to a blameless man was in fact the best thing that could ever happen for all of mankind – that we might believe and inherit eternal life.
On this side of eternity, what we see and experience in the here and now is only but an incomplete snapshot of God’s eternal perspective.
Are we able to give thanks before our prayers are answered? And even if our prayers are not answered in the way we would like God to answer them, can we still trust Him? Can we believe that He is still working all things, no matter how “bad” they may appear to be, together for good?
Let us take heart that God himself has gone before us and is already preparing the road ahead of us.
“Are we able to give thanks before our prayers are answered? And even if our prayers are not answered in the way we would like God to answer them, can we still trust Him? ”