This weekend the Paris Olympic Games come to an end. It has been a week of loss and great achievements, victories, and heartbreak. As I write this, the United States is in the lead with 121 metals so far this Olympics.
One of the heartbreaks this week was of US runner Noah Lyle who won the bronze medal after running the 200 m race while having COVID-19. After the run, he collapsed and had to be wheeled to the locker room in a wheelchair.
The Olympics reveal a vital truth about winning; it isn’t always easy or doesn’t work out how we plan things.
- Painful
- Temporary
- Isn’t guaranteed
Athletes prepare and train for years to get ready to participate in the Olympic Games. No one knows if their discipline and hard work will bring them victory or defeat. Even the best athletes don’t always get the win.
While working on today’s post, the USWNT defeated the world-renowned Brazilian soccer team for the gold medal. Amazingly, the team had only worked with their new head coach for eight months before the Olympics began.
No one expected the team to make it as far as they did during these Olympic Games. A win or lose, the new coach is there for the team. There is a spiritual truth for each of us to learn, if God has called us, He is there with us wherever our circumstances take us (1 Thessalonians 5:24.)
Is God there?
When we are struggling, it is a common question to wonder where God is in our time of need. Unfortunately, our sinful nature causes us to think that God is only with us when we are winning at life, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Just because we don’t get what we want in life or are experiencing troubles doesn’t mean God isn’t with us. One of the promises of God is that He is always with His people (Romans 8:37-39, 1 Corinthians 10:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Thessalonians 5:21.)
The Apostle Paul reminded the early church of a basic Jewish teaching, even in our losses, God is always with us. God is omnipresent and He is there, even if we don’t feel His presence (Isaiah 44:8, Zachariah 14:4-9, Malachi 2:10.)
Sham
After more than 430 years of exile in Egypt, God introduced Himself to Moses as the Great I Am (Exodus 3:14.) God’s affirmation to Moses and His people is God is here with them, even while they were in bondage to Egypt (Deuteronomy 20:1; 11:13-19, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 23:1-6, Isaiah 7:14. )
The Hebrew word for there in the Old Testament is Sham and it can also mean here, hither, or wherever, depending on the context it is used in. Israel understood the importance of God being with them. One of the names they gave God was Jehovah Shammah, meaning God is there (Ezekiel 48:35.)
When we are facing hardships, it is important to understand God is still there with us. We can recognize the advantages of God being with us.
- God’s protection
- Peace
- Provisions
- Presence
When Jesus was born, He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah of God being here with His people (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23.) Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He continued this Jewish promise about God being here with His people.
He told His followers that when they saw Him, they saw God (John 14:9-15.) Jesus declared He is the way to God (John 14:6.)
And of course, Jesus promised to be with His followers, even to the end of time and the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20.) Jesus is with us, even if life comes crashing down.
Brazilian Plane Crash
Late this week there was tragic news about a Brazilian plane spiraling out of the sky and crashing into a neighborhood not far from the airport in Brazil. It has been a rough year for Brazil.
Brazil’s inflation has crippled many families; their former president faces legal challenges over his corrupt activity, and now Brazil losing to the United States at the Olympics. Fortunately, loss and defeat are part of living in a fallen world.
- Suffering
- Corruption
- Greed
I’m sure many Brazilians are wondering where God is during these hard times. The good news is God is with us, in the midst of all of this chaos, He hasn’t abandoned anyone. God can help us deal with the pain and only He can save us. That is why He is called Jehovah Shammah!
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