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Sometimes, it can be hard to see the light in this world. There are times when it just feels hopeless. When there is so much darkness, despair, and needless suffering that it wears on the spirit, grinding it down like sandpaper. It can drag you down, make you feel like there is no point in trying to do good when there is so much evil out there. At its lowest, it tempts us to ask "where is God?”

When men guilty of the most vile sorts of crimes walk free or with a slap on the wrist. When justice seems like a scarce commodity, you could catch yourself asking "where is God?”

When children go to sleep hungry and cold. When their parents don't know where their next meal is going to come from or if they'll be able to afford new coats this year, you might wonder "where is God?”

When innocent men and women go out for a peaceful evening at a restaurant only to be slaughtered in an act of mindless terrorism. When children are suddenly left orphans and families are forever shattered in an act of random violence,  you might cry and ask "where is God?”

The truth is though, He is always with us. It might not always be apparent, and we might not always understand his ways, but God is with us. He is watching over us and we know He has a plan. We've seen his signs and know from Biblical prophecy that God does everything for a reason, even when we don't understand those reasons.

So what are we to do? When things seem grim, when we live in times of hardship and suffering, what does God expect of us? The answer is very clear, He expects us to meet those challenges with "patient endurance.”

"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have” (Revelation 3:10-11)

The Lord understands our struggles. He isn't blind, and he certainly isn't absent. He knows the temptation is there to question him in difficult times. All he asks is that we remain steadfast. That we are patient in our endurance. When the darkness mounts and surrounds us, that isn't the time to shrink and cower, that's when we should be shining the light of the Lord the most. When we need to be our best selves, our most generous selves, and more compassionate selves. We need to endure and trust that in His divine grace, the Lord will deliver us when he believes it's appropriate, not us. 

And we know that deliverance is coming. The Lord rewards those who endure, as it says in Revelation 7:16 "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

These are not easy days and it's normal to feel discouraged, but that doesn't mean we should throw in the towel and surrender to despair. We need to endure, to be the Christians God wants us to be during these troubling times. To spread his word and love to those that need it, to be active in fighting the darkness that surrounds us.

Where is God? He's right beside you, holding you up and keeping you standing.