“I will Never Leave nor Forsake you”

We have come face to face with some of the most acute desperation;
Children starving, entire families living in small tents made of sticks,
mothers forced to send their children to orphanages because they cannot afford
to feed them… It’s heartbreaking to encounter such sorrow and know there’s
nothing you can do to alleviate the pain.

This past week we spent some time doing house visits where
we went into people’s homes and prayed for them. It was a wonderful experience,
but sometimes it was hard to learn the situations and hardships that each
family is going through. We went to one woman’s house to pray and when we got
there she was visibly upset. She was apparently angry with the pastor because
he hadn’t come to visit her. The pastor began to tell us her story, and my
heart broke for her. She has an abusive husband, and the last time he beat her
so brutally her wrist broke. He just left her there, and one of her friends took
her to the hospital. She is now hiding out at her friend’s house, terrified to
go home. She is unable to work for 2 months, and does not know how she will
eat.

         The
sorrow in that home was like a heavy blanket. As we prayed, a steady flow of
tears was falling on all sides. I wept for her situation and cried out to God
for her. This woman’s life had fallen apart… Why didn’t he save her?

It is easy to say God is good when you do not daily
encounter the heart-wrenching sorrows of His children. I have been preaching on
God’s promise to never leave or forsake you, and seeing these kinds of sorrows
has given it new meaning for me. I have always known in my head that just
because bad things happen doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. Just because you
cannot see anything good in a situation does not mean that God has ceased to be
good. But it is difficult to be saying to someone ‘God is Good!’ and know they
aren’t experiencing that right now.

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be afraid of
them: for the lord you’re God, He is the one who goes with you. He will never
leave you nor forsake you. Deut 31:6

This may not make any sense, but after seeing everything
that I have seen (and I know I haven’t seen that much), my belief in God’s
goodness is stronger than ever. I struggled for a couple of days with this
promise in Deuteronomy, trying to match it up with all the hurts that I have
seen. And at first glance, it doesn’t seem to match up. But I came across this
verse again.

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let Patience have its
perfect work in you, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

Jesus promised that we would have trouble in this life. He
said we’d probably have more trouble than most people. And as I thought about
it, I came to the conclusion that it’s ok. Not the suffering, I don’t think
anything can excuse the devil for the devastation and sorrow that he has
caused. But, God uses our struggles to work on our hearts, and draw us closer
to Him. It may seem like our struggles are lasting forever, but we can have
patience, because in the long run, even if they follow you till you die, it
will be the shortest part of your life. We have an eternity with God in the
future.

I have been in continual prayer for this woman. My heart has
been put at peace, because I now understand better (although not fully) God’s
promise to always be with us. His desire is to draw us closer to himself, and
sometimes he uses difficult situations to do that. God may not have physically
intervened when the woman was being beaten, but I know his heart was breaking
for her. And I know it was God who has provided friends to comfort her and care
for her.

“For He himself has said “I will Never leave you nor Forsake
you�, So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper. I will not fear, What can
man do to me?�

Eternity is not at stake. And when life is just falling
apart at the seams, we know it is only for a short while. My heart still breaks
for this woman and her situation, but there is also a peace in my spirit for
her. I know God is with her, and I know that he is good.

Ps. 34: 1-4

I will bless the Lord at all times

His praise will continually be on my lips.

My soul shall make it’s boast in the Lord

The humble shall hear of it and be glad

Oh magnify the Lord with me,

Let us exalt his name together

I sought the Lord and he heard me

And delivered me from all my fears