Life is hard.

Within the last 24 hours, I’ve heard from a person battling significant mental illness, one who’s life-threatening illness has returned, a person who is having to let go of employees because of Obamacare, and another who is being forced to sign up for it because they’ve been priced out of their own health insurance. I met a gal who is providing full-time home health care for an elderly relative for the foreseeable future, another who is about to lose their home, and one who’s marriage is hanging by one tenuous thread.

24 hours.

I bet, if you think about it, you talked to some people, too, who are facing huge challenges. Maybe you ARE one of those people. And maybe you are wondering where, in the world, God is in all of it.

Well, He’s still there.

The thing is, He didn’t even spare His own Son from hardship and death, so we can’t really expect that we will be spared from challenges ourselves. What He did do was promise not to go anywhere through all of it, and who else can say that? Human beings are flawed, and when pushed to the wall, are unpredictable at best. But God? Well, He’s the same, all the time. The same in an ever-changing world, and that, in and of itself, is cause to stand up and take notice. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to put my faith in something that shifts with every strong wind.

God is the safe harbor in the storm. He controls the storm, yes; but sometimes the storm is needed to tear away faulty exteriors so newer, stronger ones can be built. Sometimes it washes away old stains to make way for a new paint job. Sometimes it strips away everything, so something completely new can be erected. So while the winds blow, He stands, unaffected by them, so that you can cling to Him in safety until it passes.

Yes, my God is still there…always there…waiting for me and you, when the going gets tough.

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6 ESV

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NIV

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

“You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.” Psalm 91:1-16 MSG