Where Is God When I’m Really Hurting?

One of the toughest questions for suffering believers and theologians is: “Where is God when I’m really hurting?” It’s easy to sense God’s mastery of circumstances during “mountaintop” seasons. This FAQ will focus on His mastery of the valleys, during our lowest times. Is He God of both the mountaintops and the valleys?

In 1 Kings 20, Israel’s very existence was threatened by a huge army led by the King of Aram, including 32 other kings and 127,000 soldiers. Overcoming incredible odds of 18 to 1, Israeli soldiers destroyed this massive army with just 7000 men! 

The Arameans just knew they should have won this battle and reasoned Israel’s God must have special powers in mountainous terrain. So in 1 Kings 20:23 they say, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail.” So they raised up a second army of 127,000 soldiers to challenge Israel in the flat lands of the valley. Yet God empowered Israel to rout this huge army too, but this time in the valley!

When you have cancer or another serious disease, you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23). During my Stage IV metastatic melanoma cancer battle, I walked through that dark valley. In 2003, my cancer doctor gave me “days to live,” with 0% chance of survival. At first I boldly fought that prediction, but soon fear and doubts crept in. Eventually I abandoned myself to the Lord and began to feel His presence, comfort, and power more than any other time in my life! My tears switched from self-pity to joy. And then, demonstrating He truly has the final say over everything, He gave me a 100% healing of the “terminal” cancer, and I praise Him that I’ve been cancer free since 2003!

Paul the Apostle had far more than his share of valley experiences with unjust, severe whippings, beatings, stoning and lengthy incarcerations (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) . Still he insisted in 2 Corinthians 2:14 that the God of the mountains and valleys always leads us in victory: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” (Find out how to become “in Christ” here).

Human statistics and predictions do not have mastery over us! The God of all spaces and places fights our battles victoriously, so let’s lean on Him together!

*This post is part of our series, “Frequently Asked Questions About God and Cancer!” If you subscribe to our email newsletter, we’ll send a new FAQ on a regular basis. These FAQs will live here on our blog and on our FAQ page. Feel free to give feedback or ask new questions in the comments below!