“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Psalm 115:3)

Some people that do not know God as Savior, but are not agnostics, do believe that there is a supreme being, a supreme power that can be seen in creation. They are not God-haters, nor are they against the people of God. They even have a certain level of respect for the Bible. However, they are not believers or followers or disciples of Jesus Christ. Oftentimes in national catastrophes, mass killings, etc., these people ask, “Where is God?” “If there is a God, why would He let this happen to innocent people?”

Not only do many non-believers ask these kinds of questions in times of distress, “Why did this happen?” – but also “the believers” (those who say they are the children of God), ask the same type of questions directed to God’s Sovereignty as to “Why?”

As harsh as it may seem, the Sovereignty of God is very difficult even for born-again Christians to accept; especially, when it comes home to them or to their families. However (see Psalm 115:3), “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

There are several things that the creature can do in trying to understand the plan and movements of Almighty God:

1. Come to see that God is the Creator, the Controller, and the Consummator of His Creations (Job 14:5) (Prov. 19:21) (Isa. 46:9-11); therefore, God is right, holy, and just; there is no sin in God; no error in God.
2. To understand that God knows all things; sees all things (1 Chron. 28:9); and that all things are to bring Him glory; even, “the wrath of man” shall praise God (Psa.76:10) “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”
3. The secret things belong unto God (Deut. 29:29). Humans cannot see the end from the beginning, or any of the in between; humans only know the past, or after the events happen.
4. God is love; God loves His children and His creation; God has good for His creation and not bad. But God hates sin, and He judges sin. God set up the law of sowing and reaping fruit from the seed sown (Gal. 6:7-8). The problem with humans is not God; but is the humans and their disobedience of the laws of God. And yet, not all catastrophes, not all things that humans consider bad, are because of their sin or because of someone else’s sin; but, the working out of the purpose of God for His creation and for His glory.
5. God does not always reveal the reason why immediately, or ever. He is not obligated to tell the created why. God’s only obligation to His creation is to keep His Word. The problem then, is the creature’s desire to know all the reasons of the events; and it has not pleased God to reveal all reasons for the events on the earth. Why?

The answer for the child of God is:

1. Walk by faith and not by sight; trusting the Heavenly Father, and not relying on the flesh and the lust of man (Heb. 11:6). This trust, at all times, and in all circumstances, causes the child of God to grow in the grace and in the Knowledge of the Savior Jesus Christ; because it drives the child of God to God’s Written Word, and to prayer to God for their answers to go through the present events. Also, it reveals to the child of God that it is not by their merits or power, but only by the grace of God, which is their sufficiency.
2. The trial, or the test, proves not to God who they are, but to themselves (Deut. 8:1-3), to see if they would keep the commandments of God or no; and it humbles them and reveals to them that they cannot live by bread alone, but by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

The answer for the unsaved who question God and the events that happen on the earth that are seemingly adverse to them is:

1. That among all the chaos of sin and depravity of man; the good of righteousness always shines through from others. God causes man to sympathize in times of disaster (such as providing help with food and water, medical supplies, etc.). But, this comes from God and not from selfish man. The giver in such cases may not give God the credit for his benevolence; however, all good comes from God and not from depraved man (Jas. 1:17).
2. It shows to him that even in chaos, there is a God that restores order; God ordained His law and human government to set the standard for the unrighteous and evil worker; the law of God reveals the crime and the criminal, and pronounces judgment on the same (1 Tim. 1:10-11). Therefore, from time to time, the wrong done to humanity, those responsible for the crime, are found out and charged and judged. The unsaved sees that wrong never wins out; this is a work of God for the protection of His creation and reveals His control over His creation.

The fact remains, whether a person is saved or unsaved in his understanding, the creature only sees as the events happen; and God sees it all from beginning and the end, and all in between. Every man in this world is born with a capacity to know there is a God:

(Rom 1:18-20) “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  (19)  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Every man is born with conscience:

(Rom 2:14-15) “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:  (15)  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”

God is the Keeper of His Creation and not man. God is the Cause, the Controller, and the Consummator of all things in His creation. God is Faithful and will carry out His Plan and Purpose for mankind.

Be assured that when you hear someone say, “Where is God in all this?” or you even hear yourself say the same, then others or yourself, are not being true to what God has placed in the conscience of all humans; for all humans, saved or unsaved, know that there is a God, and this God is in complete control, and He is the Sustainer of His own creation. That God is Just, Pure, and Holy, and hates sin and will bring all things to justice. After God had created the heavens and the earth and all things, even man, God said, “It is Good” (Gen. 1:31).

The question remains for many, “Where is God?”

The answer (Psalm 115:3) “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”  If it pleases God, whatever happens, it should please us.