It’s been great to see how our small groups are really beginning to live out serving each other and caring for people. One person in a group had a key need and her small group committed to helping her, praying for and going the extra mile to make sure everything worked out. Life is better together! We all need five, six or seven people in our lives who really know us, love us and are committed to us.

At times, life just doesn’t make sense. Does it? Things don’t turn out the way we planned or hoped for: lost jobs, broken relationships, disappointments - you name it. On top of all that we’re feeling, where’s God? If he’s all-loving, all-powerful, why would he let us go through all of the mess and loss?

For some of us, our response to the above scenario is something like this:

In the midst of what I’m experiencing, just the thought of God makes sigh. I get rid of the thoughts like that as quick as I can. Besides, I can’t see God, so how do I know he really cares - or is even there? All of this religious stuff is just some kind of silly superstition and fairy tale kind of thing. But, if God is there, why he is so silent? Is this life just some kind of “cosmic test”? And, please spare me from the typical pat answers and cliches that religious people give me. I want some kind of answer that I can get my arms around … something that helps me make sense out of all of this. If there is a God, then there has to be an answer that makes sense …

Is this where you are? If so, God is with us in the midst of the mess. If we stop for a minue and open our spiritual eyes, we can often see the bigger picture … a picture of God’s love and care - even in the midst of our mess. To help us gain a spiritual perspective on our physical reality or life situation, look again at a picture of God’s love in the story of the Lost Son - click here.