Like many others I have been listening to loads of worship music, sermons and podcasts during this lock down period. I spent a day just in the presence of God a couple of weeks ago and came across a sermon by Louie Giglio that he entitled ‘Where is God’. I believe he gave this sermon at the end of March, just as we were entering full lock down.
It was really on my heart to write the poem below after listening to his sermon. Louie rightly emphasised at the start that he was by no way minimising the situation caused by Corona Virus, but said we need a real time breakthrough to stop the spread of this terrible pandemic. Louie also pointed out that many people are questioning where is God in all of this, and he refers to the Easter Story, in particular Day 2 to show that God in fact is with His people, even when the situation may not look as if that is the case.
I am myself a Christian and have lost a dear friend to this ferocious virus, the loss of whom has left a huge hole in my heart. Do I personally believe that God sent this pandemic, NO, definitely not. Do I believe that God can use this circumstance and turn what was meant for evil to Good, most definitely. Many of us have lost family and friends and our lives will never be the same again, this has been a traumatic and devastating situation, but many have also been drawn to seek God, to find a faith and to receive eternal life. Louie answers the question of ‘Where is God’ explaining that God is with us and working for us, even though we may not be able to see or comprehend it.
WHERE IS GOD ?
Suddenly life as we knew it
Was changed in the blink of an eye
The corona virus pandemic came
Where are you God was the cry
In a world full of fear and of panic
Countries locked down one by one
And the sceptics, and non-believers
Shouted now where’s your God, where’s He gone?
The world had come to a stand still
From the streets there wasn’t a sound
Across the globe people dying
Destruction and death on the ground
Where is God in the midst of all this?
As the known world was falling apart
Well God had a plan of salvation for all
A plan from the very start
And right now we sure need a breakthrough
But Christ died once and for all
To reconcile each of us to God
To answer heavens call
We’re facing an evil enemy
But God wants us to see the truth
To shine a light on Who He is
And Jesus is the proof
Let’s go back to the story of Easter
Good Friday, the day that Christ died
He gave His life for the sins of the world
So with God we could always abide
Jesus died on Good Friday, Day 1
Easter Sunday, Day 3 He is risen
This was God’s plan of salvation
A free gift for all it is given
When we’re asking the question, where is He?
We need to go look at Day 2
This is the epicentre
We can find God right here, He’s with you
Jesus died 3pm on the Friday
Jewish timelines are not quite the same
At 8pm on the Friday night
In their culture, the day starts again
So 8pm on that Friday night
The Jewish Sabbath began
Jesus’s body already removed from the cross
In the tomb lay the Son of Man
From 3pm Friday evening
When Jesus gave up his last breath
There were approximately 29 hours
Before Resurrection from Death
But He could have been instantly risen
The moment His body was dead
Can you hear the disciple’s question?
Where is Jesus, they must have said
Where’s the Jesus who raised our brother from death
Where’s the Jesus who walked on the water
Where’s the Jesus who did such miraculous works
Where’s the Jesus who healed sons and daughters
He was full of great power and authority
He taught us how to live well
It’s Sabbath, its still, nothing’s happening
Oh Jesus where are you, do tell
The disciples asked the same question as us
As in their hiding places they stayed
They were looking for God just as we are
Where are you Lord, we’re afraid.
On day 2 when no one saw Jesus
They were dismayed, and very confused
And it looked like God was nowhere in sight
But wait, for I bring you good news
Because Jesus is called Emanuel
Translated, it means God is here
The creator of the universe
God with us, He’s not left, He’s near
When it looked like God wasn’t with them
When it felt like they were alone
God was actually working on their behalf
They were never on their own
Just like now in this lockdown
When the situation is odd
What’s happening, why have you left us
Where are you Lord our God
There will never be a moment
A day, a time, a season
When God is not here with you
And ‘Emanuel’s’ the reason
It didn’t look like God was working
As Jesus lay inside that tomb
Just like now in this pandemic
There are no headlines in the room
To say that God is close to us
And bringing down this curse
The headlines that were hearing
Just say it’s getting worse
But Gods creator and sustainer
And 2000 years ago
He began and finished the greatest work
That man would ever know
This is what was happening then
When it looked like God wasn’t moving
In the unseen depths of the underworld
Jesus descended and things were improving
God was in fact defeating death
God was defeating Hell
God was defeating the power of darkness
But in the natural we couldn’t tell
God was defeating the power of sin
God was ending condemnation
God was abolishing the reign of guilt and shame
And overturning the situation
When it looked like God had left them
The creation He had made
God was completing his greatest work
Forever conquering the grave
There are some that would say he couldn’t be working
Because it’s the Sabbath they’d say
But remember from 3 until 8 on day 1
There’s 5 hours belong to Fri-day
To God a day is a thousand years
And a thousand years is a day
God had all the time He needed
To accomplish His plan, His way
Many will say I can’t see it
Will this pandemic end they say
Well just wait because Sundays coming
A day 3 where the stones rolled away
A Day we’ll see and understand
That God’s been here right from the start
Gods bringing the best possible results
Salvation of many hearts
We understand we need real time help
Ventilators, shields and masks
Not just spiritual mumbo jumbo
To complete these impossible tasks
And I would say Amen to that
But in God we have to trust
For He sends the rain and the sunshine
To the righteous and the unjust
This means God has no favourites
And He’s pouring out His grace
We’re experiencing help from heaven
As were fighting disease in this place
God is calling us unto himself
He wants every soul to be saved
To experience relationship with Him
The purpose for which we were made
Covid 19’s no respecter of persons
It don’t care if you’re rich or you’re poor
It’s a deadly invisible enemy
And it’s crouching at everyone’s door
For God the worst possible outcome
Is for you to beat this infection
Only to go straight back to a life
Without God, where you’ve chosen rejection
To a life with no purpose or meaning
No power or spirit or peace
To die in another season
Without God, without a belief
Right now God’s extending His mercy
But one day a judgement is coming
Gods calling the millions unto himself
He’s calling you, to stop running
God wants us to live full of hope, faith and power
To bless on us with all that He’s got
Right now we’re experiencing heavens help
Whether we know it or not
Go back to the story of Noah
Through the ark God was making a way
Noah was telling the people
God’s doing the same here today
He’s making a way and extending His mercy
As two ships pull into the ports
U.S.S Comfort and U.S.S Mercy
Bringing medics, love and support
The ships come from a mercy class
Providing shelter in crisis and fear
In this moment of time, where is God
The answer is God is right here
He’s pulling into the port with mercy
He’s pulling into your town
He’s pulling into your drive, you’re condo
Will you let you’re defences down
When Noah proclaimed the goodness of God
And the mercy the ark did provide
Only Noah’s family of eight
Took Gods hand and went inside
Today we need a miracle
God is near and He’s in this place
Right now He’s doing His greatest work
By the power of His grace
When God made Adam & Eve at creation
He gave them His very best
Put them in the Garden of Eden
On Day seven He told them to rest
They didn’t need to take a rest
They’d only just been invented
But day seven was the Sabbath day
A day to reflect and be contented
What does the Sabbath mean to you?
It’s a day that’s set apart
A gift God gave to all mankind
From the goodness of His heart
We need the Sabbath to glorify God
Our praises and worship to sing
He’s sovereign, He’s our safe house
He’s almighty, He’s our king
Where is God in this pandemic?
He’s near, you are not alone
Take shelter in His mercy
Until the day God calls you home
Elaine Brannon
