Lent

It's been a "What is happening Lord?" sort of week. Mid-week, a friend told me that she has had a relapse and the cancer has spread. The next day, another friend updated me on his condition. He too has had a relapse. Both love the Lord, both continue to trust Him with their lives. There just didn't seem to be a reasonable explanation. I thought I've learnt not to look for answers in such situations, yet I was trying hard to figure God out.  It didn't help that I watched the video of the Malaysian pastor who was kidnapped in broad daylight. Three big black SUV surrounded his car, forced him to stop and took him away. It was like in a movie. What happened there God? 

Unfortunately it is still instinctive for me to ask "why God?" when something lousy happens. I avoid looking at pictures or articles on childhood cancer. But a few days ago, I came across a picture of a couple crying as they held on to their child who had just died. The child was probably no more than 2 years old.  Childhood cancer devastates the soul. I quickly scrolled away but I did catch myself ask "why God?"

In this season of Lent, I am reminded that as Jesus took his last breath on the cross, He gave words to situations where we face our deepest anguishes,"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" I am reminded that although I do not know God's mind nor His plans, I do know that He suffered greatly for me. I must remember that He didn't come to sell me a prosperity gospel. He showed us what suffering could be like - that it is real, that is it difficult to bear, that there will be disappointments and that we will ask why. 

When we take a hard look at the road marked with suffering, we will see His footprints. You will see that He was and is walking on the same side of the road with you. You will see that He fell many times on the road to Calvary. You will see that every time He fell, He got up and He carried on because He had to lead the way on the road of suffering. God is closer than ever to those who are in the midst of suffering, whether I remember it or not.