How do you reconcile the suffering in this world with a compassionate, loving God? By placing this difficult question in the framework of God’s redeeming work through Jesus Christ, I tried to take a hopeful view.
But I still struggle with the issue and situations addressed in this song, often asking questions like “Where were you, God?” and “Why didn’t you intervene to prevent, stop, rescue or save?”
I saw you, God, in the mountains
‘Till one collapsed on a town
I saw you, God, in the clear lakes
‘Till a man fell in and drowned
Good things so constructive
Ruined or destructive
Sin so productive of misery
I saw you, God, in a kitten
‘Till a car crushed it to the ground
I saw you, God, in a forest
‘Till it hid a child never found
Good things so constructive
Ruined or destructive
Sin so productive of misery
I see you, God, in the darkness
By the light that you gave
I know you, God, as a fighter
Showing the world an empty grave
Christ’s recreation
This world’s liberation
Sunburst! No more aging! Victory!
And without you
There’d only be
Pain and misery
But with you
What I can see
Is life pure, is life pure, is life pure and free
© Peter Slofstra • 1980 • Orillia, Ontario