What if God Doesn't Show Up?

The days and hours before the Crucifixion, the disciples were on an unprecedented high. Their Savior had provided visible proof of His Power. Numerous miracles were witnessed, yet at the Last Supper Jesus prepared the disciples for the unpredictable and unexpected outcomes of the week. I have to wonder what the people who had so faithfully followed Him and witnessed Him were thinking as the arrest and betrayal started. Their demeanor of joy and celebration within a few days turned to betrayal and disbelief. As the Acts of God fell silent, the faith of the people turned to acts of violence. Despite the pleas of Jesus, God remained silent in the midst of taunting to prove Himself. The people yelled crucify Him. God did not destroy the Temple or deliver as Jesus had predicted. They concluded He is not the Son of God. The people must have been thinking... Does this God truly exist? It seemed to the people who were witnessing Jesus that God's silence was a reflection that He was not present, not capable of delivering, or not real.

I reflected on the events leading up to the crucifixion this morning Palm Sunday, as David Ashcraft, Sr Pastor of LCBC in Lancaster suggested that the greatest things that God ever does are during times of the greatest darkness, the times of silence, the biggest messes of life and the times we think he is not going to show up. We let these doubts creep into our thinking. Life's uncertainty result in lack of personal peace and reduce our impact as people who trust and love God.

As I apply that to life today for myself, I confess that I can identify with thoughts of uncertainty and I have also wondered: where is He? What will happen if He doesn't show up? Where was He when we were sacrificing and evil was prevailing? Life is hard. Why do I have to do this alone? What will happen if He doesn't show up in Somerset County to provide truth and justice? What if I lose my job? What if the economy totally collapses? What if...? What if....?

My conclusion is the "what if" was proven unequivocally on the cross. Life is uncertain. God is not. It is true that in the midst of our darkest times when God seems silent or absent, He is doing His best work for us. I have experienced it many times in my own life. He will always show up and He will act for His Will and timing not ours. It is a reminder that God is in control and we can have peace even in the midst of violent storms. In fact we can celebrate because these are the times that those who love Him are closest to Him and can wait in silence for Him to do His work. Romans 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him.