Something that is hard to do is, when you feel like everyone is against you (whether they are or aren’t) is to continually praise God for God’s greatness. Sometimes the mentality can be, “well what have you done for me lately?” when we are considering whether or not God is worthy of our praise and awe. This is really common in our materialistic and individualistic world, and drives other questions like, “where was God in this tragedy?” or “ why didn’t God stop that tragedy?” With the Sutherland Springs shooting having happened just this past Sunday, many are asking that question, “where was God?” and in the face of that, it’s hard to continue to say that God is great, as we see in the following Psalm.

The issue of theodicy – evil happening in a world created by a good and loving God – is not new, but neither is the reality that we are creatures of free-will and have a long history of hurting one another. Where is God in tragedies like these? Weeping with parents who have lost children, embracing children who have lost parents, and working through the hands of those who care for communities broken by tragedy and through the hearts of those who strive to respond with love.

God is still great, even when we are lost, even when we are lonely, even when we are terrible to one another, God is still great. We continue to give glory to God in the face of brokenness by being a part of the mending of our world.

Let us reflect and pray.

Psalm 70

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life.
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire to hurt me.
Let those who say, ‘Aha, Aha!’ turn back because of their shame.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’
But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Amazing God, we stand in awe of the light of your glory, even as we shy away from the darkness that seems so present in our world and ourselves. Help us always to be reflectors of you love light, to spread healing and hope to places that have been torn and trampled by fear and terror. Remind us that as dark as creation seems sometimes, it and we have been created in your image and so have a potential for love and goodness, light so bright that it can scatter even the deepest of darknesses. Guide us as we support and care for one another through the good and the bad. Inspire us to heal, to embrace, to build up. We live and pray, O God, in your name. AMEN

Blessings,
Rev. Richard