We’ve been going through the theme- Father of Lights, and I’m sure this series has helped to bring better clarity to who God is.

It’s very easy to realize that evil exists, just by turning on the news we are able to see it. Hearing stories of kidnapping, wars or genocide are enough to make one realize that evil is prevalent in the world. But why is that?

Romans 5:12

New King James Version

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-

This is the reason why we have evil in the world. It is because when man sinned death entered the world through sin. It wasn’t only the human race that was marred but all of creation was marred. This is where evil came from. Sin is the root cause. From this we have death, sickness, war, strife, suffering and all sorts.

Humans have become evil and if God were to take all evil away then He would have to take us away as well because we have all sinned and fallen short of his glory, remember? In order for him to intervene and still preserve you, he first of all has to solve the problem of sin.

The question, “where is God in my pain?”, is one that is popular and stands to reason, because if God loves us so much, why then do we suffer? Where is he when you get hurt? This is exactly what we seek to explain in today’s devotional.

Where is God in your pain?

1. He became a substitute for you and for the sins of the world.

Romans 6:23

New King James Version

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Bible lets us know that the whole world owes a debt of sin they cannot pay but God took it upon Himself because no one can save man but God.

Hebrews 9:22

King James Version

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

For there to be remission of sins, there must be shedding of blood. Think about it; if the wage for sin is death, that means someone needs to pay through death. We couldn’t pay for our sins ourselves because we were in debt. We needed a blameless sacrifice. Luckily for us, God had already purposed someone to come and die for the sins of the world.

1 John 2:2

New King James Version

2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The Bible says Christ was made the propitiation for our sins; that is the payment for the sins of the entire world.

So whenever the question of “where is God in your pain?” arises, you must be reminded that He came to address the root cause of your pain. He has become the payment for your sin, for the root cause of evil so that through Him the world can be reconciled.

He solved the problem of evil by giving you Jesus. He made sure that your soul is saved for eternity.

Ezekiel 36:26

King James Version

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Jeremiah 31:33

King James Version

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

At work in man formerly, was the mechanism of sin, but now what is at work in us, is mechanism of the spirit. God has given his spirit to us to cause us to walk in his statues. To act and be like him! Salvation is essentially a miracle of changed desires. This means that man can have a new heart, new desires, holy predispositions, righteous propensities. By so doing, he has changed the sinful hearts that can cause evil in the world. Hallelujah!

2. God has stepped into your pain.

Hebrews 4:15

King James Version

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

We ought to understand that God knows what we are going through because He has become a man and is still a man on the throne.

He wants you to understand that He can sympathize with your pain for He was tempted of the devil. There were multiple attacks on His life literally since He was a child. There was hostility towards Him for most of His life as well. He understands these things.

Hebrews 13:5

New King James Version

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Where is God in your pain? He was right there with you all along, in every job loss, when you were scolded and accused wrongly, when you received that rejection email or were persecuted wrongly by people in authority. He was there and he cares. He will never leave you hanging.

3. He has disarmed evil.

Colossians 2:13-15

King James Version

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

He made a public spectacle of the devil for the whole world to see and He did this when He went to the grave.

A lot of people say that Jesus went to fight with the devil but He didn’t. He simply died and when He rose from the grave, and He broke the gates of the grave and held a triumphal procession of all who had died in Christ and marched them on to dominion. He made a public state that, “I am the one in control”.

The resurrection of Christ was a triumphal march that led every believer to victory over death and the power of the enemy.

Philippians 2:5-11

King James Version

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Every knee will bow both willingly and forcefully.

And He has given you His name so you have that victory as well. He has won. He has dealt with evil.

Prayer Point:

Lord God, I thank you because I have received a better perspective to see where you are in my pain. I know that you are always here with me and you have done something about the problem of evil.
I am constantly reminded of this truth and I never forget in a hurry.