God, What are you doing?

God, What are you doing?

3/10/2010
I’ve been hearing about Jos, Nigeria in the last few days. Most parts of the country are not experiencing this turmoil – Nigeria is huge – but it is heartbreaking nonetheless. People in the city of Jos are being brutally killed and forced to flee their homes, in the name of religion (and more). I don’t know anyone who lives anywhere near Jos. But I cried bitterly when I found out more details about this tragedy yesterday evening. I felt so helpless and so discouraged. More: Bible Verses about Discouragement

God, What are you doing? – My heart cried out. How long?
From all that I had heard in the past – Jos was such a peaceful, calm and beautiful city. People from all walks of life, varying religious beliefs, lived together in peace. What happened to Jos? How did it come to this?

My little guys heard me crying and tried to make me feel better. “Don’t worry Mommy, don’t cry! It’s gonna be fine Mom!” I was so touched when they started singing:

“O Seun o Baba…O se o, Jesu… Kinni ma fi san ore re, Bi o ti po to laiye mi… Egberun ahan ko ma to fun yin re…Ese o Jesu”!!
(Translation: “Thank you Father, Thank you Jesus… How can I ever repay you, for your amazing goodness in my life… Thousands of tongues would not be enough to praise you…”)
.
The kids know that an easy way to impress me is to say or sing something in Yoruba, and their singing did make me smile:)! And singing the song along with them just made me think too – It is so much easier to be thankful, and to praise God when most things in our lives are going well. We say – God is good!! Thank you Lord for your goodness! And yes, He is good. But how about when it seems like everything is beyond crazy? When things seem to be out of control, and you don’t know what “normal” means anymore? I cannot just imagine what the people affected in Jos must be going through. What questions must run through their minds.

And then this song came to mind, by Philips, Craig & Dean. Here’s the chorus:
“You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone”

Through my tears, through my questions, the song kept playing over and over in my head. Yes. God is still God. He is still the same God in the good and in the bad. The same God who has shown us again and again that he cares so much about us. The same God we know never sleeps, never slumbers.
Yes, God is still on the throne.

Please pray for the people of Jos, and indeed, everyone that feels like their life has been turned upside down for whatever reason – wars, death, seemingly unanswered prayers, or anything at all…. Please pray for peace, comfort, strength and hope. Please pray that people do not lose their faith in God in the midst of their turmoil and confusion. That they feel the arms of God wrapped around them, and the presence of God strongly in their lives. And please pray that this madness in Jos will stop for good. Pray for God to heal the land! It’s always heartbreaking to hear about earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and the like. We still haven’t recovered from all the happenings in Haiti, Chile, etc. But people killing others in the name of religion?? That’s just crazy!

I also remember the following scripture:
Habakkuk 3:19 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”

Amen!!! I pray we always remember that God is always God. He is a God that deserves to be praised, even when things are not going well, even when we have questions. I pray that we will always find our joy, strength, and healing in God – even when it seems like everything has failed us.

See Also: Bible Verses when you don’t understand ;
Trusting God in the midst of the Storm ; When things fall apart

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Thanks for reading, Dear Friends!
Have a wonderfully blessed, stress-free, productive, and joyful day!
Much Love & Blessings,
Bomi Jolly ~ JollyNotes.com
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Don’t go yet:)! I think you’ll also enjoy:
– There is Time for Everything
– Foolish Words
– I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!