“Why God why?” Probably a large percentage of the population has asked this question at some point in time. Maybe because of their own personal hardship, maybe over a worldwide event like 9/11 or the tsunami. Why does He let bad things happen. And especially to his children, those that have a personal relationship with him. Doesn’t that guarantee us some sort of protection?

Fortunately my “life pain” is pretty non-existent. Except for the “normal” rough patches in my marriage and battling depression, my life has been pretty easy. No serious illness, I haven’t lost any friends or relatives unexpectedly. No bad car accidents. I mean I haven’t even broken a bone.

But I’ve seen the pain in others…battling addiction…extra-marital affairs…infertility…bankruptcy…cancer.

This weekend my friend Stacey and I went to a Natalie Grant concert. There is one song (nominated for a GMA) called “Held” that is so beautiful and I have thought of so many times as I’ve watched others pain. It doesn’t claim any easy answers it just states the truth – that through it all God is there, holding us.

At the concert she shared the background behind the song that was written by Christa Wells. Christa had a friend who struggled with infertility for 9 years – many miscarriages before God blessed them with a little boy, despite being told she would never give birth. They proclaimed the little boy their miracle child from God and knew he would do great things. One morning, when he was just 8 months old, they went to his crib and found him dead. Christa wondered why God would give them a child just to take it away.

During that same time period another friend of Christa’s had her husband diagnosed, during a routine physical, with advanced cancer. He died within 2 months (within days of the other friend’s baby), leaving behind his wife and 3 small children.

As Natalie sang the song I did my best to hold back the tears. It wasn’t easy. I looked around, there were several people, eyes shut, tears streaming down their face – people you knew had experienced a “why” moment.

Maybe you’re having a “why” moment…maybe this will encourage you.

HELD
Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling

Who told us we’d be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
Were asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it’s unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held

This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held

If hope if born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held

I Peter 5:10-11
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.