God is in Nigeria

<![endif]-->Remember those 276 Nigerian girls captured in April by militant Islamists?  Remember how horrified and concerned we were?

Fifty soon escaped, and the BBC is now telling the tale of three. As I read, it brought back some memories of my time in Bolivia.

I believe God for my own life.  No matter what I've been through--hard days or sleepless nights--God's hand, guidance and presence has been with me.  I can see that good has grown and blossomed from the dark, stinky--yet rich--soil of my most painful days. It has all made me stronger and I don't resent or resist that.  

Yet, there have been times when I doubted God's plan.  Can I just be honest about that?  It was hard to believe Him sometimes, when I saw broken and abused children. 

When those Nigerian girls were taken, I felt that too-familiar pang of "Why, God?"  I prayed for their safe return and protection.  I wondered where God's place was in this apparent mess.

Today, as I reviewed testimony from those three brave, amazing girls, I sat awed again.  Was I really shocked at what they said?  God was there, right in Africa with them.

All three girls spoke of God, but words from "Hajara" especially gripped me.

(Following quote is from the BBC, found at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29762252)

"I was crying and praying until we reached the camp.

. . . . (They) gathered us in a forest around noon. Some of the girls were tired and were lying down. But I couldn't lie down. The spirit of God was asking me to go. It was telling me: 'Get up and go. Get up and go.'

So I went. Another girl followed me."

And she made it home.

"I haven't forgotten about the other girls who are still in the hands of those people. I keep praying for them.

"God will do what he wills, but I don't want to look at (the militants) because of what they have done to my life. They think they've ruined me, but God willing, they haven't ruined me. I'll continue with my education."

The article reminded me of children I knew who happily walked with God in Bolivia--through their suffering.  Children whose pain never made them feel abandoned by God.  He was present in the midst of it and they knew that.  

He is always there for us.  

Even in Nigeria.

Maybe, like me, you understand your own suffering, but not that of others like Hajara. Or maybe you're one of many who easily see God's divine plans in the life of someone else, but lack objective distance to understand pain in your own life.  So, it seems impossible to trust God with it. 

Do you struggle to reconcile a good God and suffering?  Have you learned anything that has helped you in this jarring contrast?  Let us know in the comments!

^"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"

John 16:33, Amplified Bible translation