A few days ago I wrote about the miraculous story of my sisters heart attack experience. The story details all the amazing ways in which God showed up, revealed his awesome power and mighty strength and how he swept in and saved the day. But what if he hadn’t “shown up”? What if the story had a different ending? What if my sister wasn’t in the right place at the right time? Would she still have been in the right place? On this side of the story phrases like “God really showed up” and “God’s hand was really protecting them” are used to describe the miraculous turn of events. But what if God didn’t “show-up”…would he still have been there?
Our family counts itself as fortunate. We are rejoicing instead of mourning. We are planning fun times with family when we should be planning a funeral. But I know of many families who have had different outcomes. There are many who read the of all the miraculous turn of events that happened with my sister and are thinking to themselves, “Where was God when my loved one passed away?” Some of the stories of God “not-showing up” are heart breaking. Teenagers who have their life cut way too short, fathers who never got to hold their newborn son and mothers who never watched their daughter turn 16. Where was God then?
This is the difficult part of following Christ. Because the reality is, we don’t have too many answers. We know that God is sovereign (possessing supreme power and authority) and omnipotent (having all power). We know that God is love (1 John 4:8) and that he showed us his love by dying on a cross for us (Romans 5:8). We know that nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:31-39) and that he has a specific plan for us to help us and not harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). But…the reality is, it doesn’t always feel that way, does it? Especially when it looks like God isn’t there.
I guess that’s why feelings aren’t always a good guide. I’m not suggesting that we never trust our feelings, I’m only saying we shouldn’t always trust our feelings. Just visit a haunted house around Halloween. Your feelings are going to scream at telling you that you aren’t safe, that the goblins and monsters are real and that they are out to get you. Soon enough you’ll walk through the exit sign and realize that your feelings lead you completely astray. The fact is, those are paid actors and actresses and you gladly gave them $20.00 to ruin your sleep for the next 7 nights.
When it comes to God, feelings aren’t always a good guide. The disciples knew this. In Matthew 8:23-27 we see the story of the disciples crossing the lake while Jesus took a little nap on a cot down in the belly of the boat. While Jesus was dreaming of Mary’s little lamb, a storm raged above. The boat shook. The waves crashed. And the disciples were terrified. Their feelings told them they were dead. In fact, they ran down to the belly of the boat yelling at the top of their lungs, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25). But their feelings were fraudulent. Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief, then he rebuked the winds and the rain and the bible says that suddenly there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26). Their feelings told them one thing, but the facts settled the matter.
In the same way, feelings can lead us astray in our dark days. In those days where it feels like God didn’t show-up. Our feelings tell us he’s gone. He’s forgotten us. He doesn’t care for us. But those are just feelings. Facts trump feelings. Fact: He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. Fact: He loves you with an unending love. Fact: His plans for you are designed for your betterment and his glory. Fact: Feelings might tell you otherwise.