Here we see the thought of despondent man. Often we question what God allows, thinking, “Surely, He cannot be cognizant of our situation, our trials, our temptations, our perplexities, or He would have come to our relief long before now!”

This is the way Gideon thought when Israel had been ground down for seven years by the Midianites, and he said, “If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” (Judg. 6:13). This is the way the psalmist thought when he asked, “Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?” (Ps. 77:7–9). And so thought Martha and Mary when they sent word to Jesus that their brother was sick, and “He stayed two more days in the place where He was” (Jn. 11:6). Martha even rebuked Him saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn. 11:21).

We are to remind ourselves that there are wise, though yet undisclosed, reasons which both we and the Church will yet learn that will explain whatever we go through. We are to trust the divine faithfulness in the dark, trusting where sight and sense are of no help. Christ left us with this promise: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). He ever lives and ever loves. Oh, amid the fainting and failing of what may be dearest to you in earthly love, may this be your sublime solace: He faints not; neither is weary!