Life without God?

Read:  Psalm 22: 1-5, 9-11, 19-28

Have you ever thought about life without God?  Have you ever thought about how you might get through things without God?  Have you ever thought that you don't want to imagine a God-less existence?  I thought of this as the events of this past week unfolded in Edmonton - a senseless shooting of 4 persons, 3 of whom died and 1 who is clinging to life in a hospital, in critical condition.  One might be tempted to think, "Where was God?" in all this; after all, isn't this all too often the reaction of all too many people to such things?  Indeed, God is often blamed when He should be praised...

So many things happened as this whole scenario unfolded, much of which is speculation at this point, and much that may or may not be completely accurate.  Yet, having heard what has been said so far, people might think that God just wasn't there, that all this happened and for nothing.  So if God wasn't there, then where was He?  After all, He hasn't left us, nor forsaken us, nor abandoned us, nor turned His back on us, nor... well, God is still here with all involved.  God is omnipresent, which means God is everywhere; if God is everywhere, then He has to be where everything is happening! 

Hebrews 13:5
"I [God] will never leave you, nor forsake you"

God has promised us that, even in the middle of our worst times, He is there.  Not only is He there, but He cares!  Know that you are not the only one who is going through something you wish you weren't; know that you are not the only one whom God loves enough that He would never abandon you.  This means that, for those who believe in Jesus, there is no life without God.  For those who were killed and injured, God was there with them; for the person who shot the gun, God was there with him.  Strange as it seems, God never left, and God never stopped loving, despite the senseless tragedy that unfolded.  

Ask yourself these questions: 

- Are there times when you just don't feel God in your life, or perhaps in a situation in life?
- If so, who left who?  Or did that happen at all?
- What am I able to do that will allow me to feel God's presence in my life at all times?

In the good, the bad, and the ugly of life, one thing is certain - He is there!  God is there!  And because He is there, there is no life without God for us.  Now THAT'S something to rejoice about, don't you think! 

Dear God
Thank you for always being there for me.  Thank you for your promise that you will never leave.  Thank you for being you - loving, forgiving, caring. 
Amen.