“Someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” {Mark 2:20}.
Time and time again when disaster strikes or murders are committed, we hear the question, “Where was God when this happened?” Perhaps you have experienced this kind of situation yourself and said, “If only God was there it wouldn’t have happened.”
When Jesus died, was raised, and ascended to heaven, the disciples were left on their own. This was not because God had let them down. By physically withdrawing from them, Jesus was saying to them, “Now you can’t find refuge in My presence any longer. You’re on your own. Go ahead with the instructions I gave you. From now on I’m with you in a different form. Now it depends on you.” This is what Jesus meant when He said He would be taken away from them.
There are periods of deep spiritual darkness: The stark tragedy of a specific situation; the overwhelming awareness of evil in a person’s own life, or in the world in general; or simply just feeling spiritually forsaken. We are driven to despair, and fear that God will not ever reveal Himself to us. This is how Jesus felt on the cross when He called out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
It is on occasions such as these that genuine faith draws from deep waters and says, “It is now as dark as midnight, but God will see to the break of day.”
Ever-present God, visit those who endure the darkness until the day breaks again. Amen.
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