Reflection:
Even in our most unbearable moments and years, God’s presence with us and his comfort is real. Tanya told me about the deeply painful years after her son died, at age 11, from a brain tumour. She said the years leading up to that event were also incredibly stressful. The whole family was shattered and not coping at all. Tanya said she was so angry with God. One day she even stood up in church and wanted to yell at everyone. She wanted to ask God why he didn’t kill all of them. Her anger went on for a long time. Then, about two years later, she went to a Christian conference. The speaker shared about the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He said that in Middle Eastern culture, men don’t normally run. But the father in the parable ran to the son. And that’s what God is like. He runs to us. He loves us. Even within our most impossible questions about terrible suffering (and why it happens to us), God loves us. Tanya said it blew her away. She realised, in that moment, that she could be really angry at God, and yet she could still have a relationship with him. It was almost like she was beating on his chest, within the circle of his arms. She was being held. She was being loved. And we, too, are being held and loved, in our pain and impossible questions.
Prayer:
Lord, I thank you that you are like a father who runs to me. You hold me, even in my anger and questions. Thank you.