Where Could I Go?
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5)
It’s been a tough summer in Iowa, as the news has been filled with reports of lost youngsters, desperate efforts to find them, and the sorrow and sense of failure that result when we learn that the worst possible outcome is the reality. The images of a special needs, sweet-natured boy, a young woman on the threshold of adulthood, and families stressed, anxious, bewildered at how this could happen to them have touched our hearts deeply. We are further reminded of families of victims in recent years, who continue to experience pain and loss. We breathe little prayers: “Lord, comfort them, ease their pain, let them feel your presence.” And maybe, too, we pray, “Father, keep my loved ones safe in your care, don’t let anything terrible happen to them.”
There are no easy answers to the “why?” of these events. We live in a broken, sinful world, and don’t have to look beyond our borders to see evil, tragedy, or heartbreak. Throughout our lives, we are often told that we should rely on our faith in times of tragedy, and many grieving hearts have cried out for that faith to comfort them. But then as we read Paul’s letter to the Romans, we find this passage, filled with assurance, promise, hope, and even joy, even as he speaks of the sorrows of this world. Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, a promise for all eternity.
The Lutheran Study Bible provides insight, explaining that as we endure suffering in this life, we learn to place our future into God’s hands, not our own. This brings us hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because through the Holy Spirit, God’s love is poured out, filling our hearts. God never lets go of us; he holds on so that when we are lost and weak, his strength is more than enough.
A sweet old Gospel song has been in my thoughts lately, “Where Could I Go But to the Lord?” The first stanza, so simple, asks,
Where could I go, Oh, where could I go; Seeking a refuge for my soul.
Needing a friend to help me in the end, Where could I go but to the Lord?
We may feel helpless, but there is power in prayer, and we continue to pray that those in pain will feel God’s loving presence, his grace, and the hope that will bring them peace.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers