Listening to the news today often means one sad story after another. Bombings, war, disease, natural disasters – everything seems to be falling apart. Bad things happen to people who are simply living their lives. It is a human response to ask, “Where is God when bad things happen?” It can be hard to see Him when we are in the middle of pain and confusion. Job had the same experience when he lost everything he loved — he couldn’t see God. He said, “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him.”

Yet Job refused to give up, because he knew if he lost his faith, he would really have nothing. About God, Job said, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job knew that even if he couldn’t see God, God could see him. God was present.

The same goes for us in today’s dangerous and frightening world. God is always working through His people. Sometimes we can see Him in medical professionals, or those who take in refugees. Or we can see Him in beauty and joy that is present, even when times are tough. We must show others that faith in God means that even when God is hard to see, He is still present with us, and working in us and through us. This should give us hope!                                 

This is Luis Palau.