Where Is God?

Where Is God?

My enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

Psalm 42:3

Acouple had two little boys, ages eight and ten, who were extremely mischievous. The two were always getting into trouble, and their parents could be sure that if any mischief occurred in their town, their two young sons were in some way involved. The parents were at their wits’ end as to what to do about their sons’ behavior.

The mother had heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children in the past, so she asked her husband if he thought they should send the boys to speak with him.

The husband said, “We might as well. We need to do something before I really lose my temper!”

The clergyman agreed to speak with the boys, but he asked to see them individually. The eight-year-old went to meet with him first. The clergyman sat the boy down and asked him sternly, “Where is God?”

The boy made no response, so the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Where is God?”

Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face, “Where is God?”

At that the boy bolted from the room and ran straight home, slamming himself in the closet. His older brother followed him into the closet and said, “What happened?”

The younger brother replied, “We are in big trouble this time. God is missing, and they think we did it!”

God often seems to be missing in our world today too. I wonder if we, as silent Christians, did it.

—J. John and Mark Stibbe

Father, please help me to open my mouth and speak up when others are trying to make you disappear. Without you in our world, we are lost indeed. Give me courage, Father. And help me to remember that you are always with me in what I say and how I live. Amen.