The Lord Goes Before You (Deut 31:8)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. - Deut 31:8

There is nothing that happens to us that God does not allow.

Is there a truth more comforting and terrifying all at once than this one?

When we consider the evils of this world, we are right to imagine that God abhors them even more than we do.

But if He hates them, and yet they happen, does this not mean that He is powerless to stop them?

Of course, if we take seriously the idea of omnipotence - the all powerfulness of God - then we must utterly reject the claim that God is powerless to stop any sort of evil.

We can hear Jesus saying to those who tie themselves in knots over questions such as these: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."

Make no mistake - the problem of evil has been solved.

But its solution is not revealed to the "wise and learned" but rather to "little children."

The answer cannot be understood intellectually, only relationally.

Only by coming to know the Father, by the revelation of the Son, through the companionship of the Spirit can we begin to understand intuitively how this paradox has been resolved.

Only by entering into union with the crucified God can we begin to know that the Cross transforms suffering into joy.

Mere human words cannot communicate these truths, only can a relationship with the Divine Incarnate Word Himself.

Fear has no place in the heart which clings to this Word.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Psalm 139:5-6