Where is God?

NFL teams have been participating in voluntary official team activities (OTAs) and minicamps as players prepare for the upcoming season.

With every player deciding how involved he wants to be in each practice and some players choosing not to attend the OTAs or even mandatory minicamps, people often ask why they're not showing up.

Teammates and coaches are thinking or saying, "We need them to show up... we're counting on them…I wonder what they are doing."

When a player's presence isn't felt at the team facility, it causes people to ask, "Where is he?"

Currently, across the NFL, we can ask about these players:

Where is Micah Parsons?

Where is Trey Hendrickson?

Where is T.J. Watt?

Where is James Cook?

Where is Terry McLaurin?

These key players have their reasons for not attending their team's OTAs, and even though it doesn't make sense to us as fans, they've already proven to be great, so we can trust that they know what they're doing and ultimately, have a purpose for their decision.

These players are likely working out behind the scenes and will make a significant impact once the season begins. Their perspective is broader as they focus on the long season ahead, contract extensions, and all aspects of their careers.

As we wonder where NFL players are and question why they aren’t showing up (they usually want more money), I want to unpack the parallel found in our own lives and view of God.

The world we live in is very broken and evil, with tragedy all around us. Much of the news we hear worldwide is devastating, frightening, and heartbreaking.

We're filled with many questions when awful things happen, including "Where is God?" and "Why isn't He showing up?" We wonder what He is doing and declare we need Him to show up and acknowledge we're counting on Him.

These concerns and questions also arise in our own lives and in the lives of those who are close to us. When things don't make sense and evil runs rampant, we question why God doesn't intervene the way we want Him to and why He doesn't stop something from happening. When we can't feel His presence, we ask, "Where is He?"

The reality is that we live in a temporary world filled with sin where people have the freedom to choose God or evil.

The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:19 (NLT), "We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one." 

In these awful circumstances, we must cling to the truth of who God is and believe that He is good, loving, and just.

As followers of Jesus, He is always with us, so we can put our hope and faith in Him during times of pain and confusion and remember to maintain an eternal perspective.

He has already proven to be good, great, and loving, so we can trust that He knows what He's doing and that His eternal purposes are still being accomplished.

Even when it appears that evil is temporarily winning, He's working behind the scenes and will reveal Himself in ways that put His glory, power, and comfort on full display.

After all, we see this with the Son of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

But as we know, God had a bigger plan that was being revealed and fulfilled through Jesus' death and ultimate resurrection. The same God who redeemed the cross redeems our pain and fills us with victorious hope.

1 John 5:4-5 (AMP) tells us, "For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our faith. Who is the One who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the One who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God." 

Today, we must know that God doesn't cause evil, yet He is sovereign over all, and we don't always understand why He allows certain things to happen.

So, when we begin to ask, "Where is God?" we must remind ourselves of the promise found in Romans 8:28 (AMP): "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose." 

As we continue to live on this side of eternity following Jesus and relying on Him through confusing challenges and tragedies, we can boldly say, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort and console me" (Psalm 23:4; AMP).

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that the tragedies personally and in the world draw us to You. Help us to see Your glory and power shine through as we persevere and heal. Please comfort me and give me strength. Fill me with hope as I trust in Your goodness and eternal purposes that they may be accomplished. Thank you for redeeming me and this evil world. I long to be with You both now and forever. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.