Where is God when I'm Hurting?

Where is God when I'm hurting?  Many a book have been written about this topic.  But several years ago, upon discovering what has become one of my all-time favorite books regarding God and questions of His existence, I read a great analogy that sums up this question of such great enormity so very well.  I wanted to share it with you.

The book, called Letters From a Skeptic, by Dr. Gregory A Boyd and Edward K. Boyd wrestles with a skeptical father's questions to his Christ following son.  The son, an Ivy league trained theologian, answers many letters from his father addressing questions that run the gamut relating to the existence of and love of God.  The father asks and the son answers each question so eloquently and yet in the simplest of laymen's terms.  The letters were originally just private letters, as any of us might write to a friend or family member.  They were never intended for a book.  But to our great benefit, they made the decision at some point to turn them into this great work.

In this particular exchange they are discussing why prayers so often seem to go unanswered.  Dr. Boyd answers his father this way…

Perhaps we can think of it this way.  Lets say there was a little house inhabited by American allies on Normandy beach when D-day broke out.  In fact, let's suppose that the family in this unfortunate beach cottage consisted of the son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren of the head captain of the invading American fleet.  There they were, caught in the crossfire of this terrible battle.  Let's say they had a radio line with this captain and they could radio their requests to him during the battle.  They told him they were being hit both with enemy fire and with American fire.  They told him they were wounded and needed supplies, hungry and needed food, etc.

Now the captain cares a great deal about his family and he would like to answer every one of their requests.  But, at the same time, there is a larger battle to fight, thousands of other lives to consider, and the outcome of this important battle which must be of preeminent importance.  So sometimes this captain can meet his son's requests.  But other times, given the strategic warfare of the enemy, he cannot.  And perhaps sometimes their requests aren't even to their own advantage given the course the battle is taking.  But, the unfortunate family in the beach cottage doesn't have this broader prospective.  They only know that the captain is on their side, that their requests are heard and are taken into account, and that sometimes their requests are granted and sometimes not.  But they, lacking his strategic prospective, have no idea why this is the case.  They don't have a purview of the whole battle.  Their perspective is limited to the tiny windows in their cottage.

This writing has just given me such a different perspective on my myopic little view of the world.  It reminds me that our Heavenly Father is not distant at all in our times of trouble.  He is always there, always protecting, and always providing.  So if you're hurting and wondering, I hope this brings you comfort, the visual of your Captain, your Heavenly Father, working ferociously, tirelessly and endlessly through the battle to bring you all the desires of your heart just soon as He possibly can.  HE LOVES YOU!