Where is God?

Whenever a tragedy occurs, it is inevitable among people of faith that the question will arise, "Where is God?" I would think that those who are skeptical of religion in general would also be asking that question right about now.Most of the victims of the shooting in Tuscon were active in their communities of faith. Should that not offer some form of protection? Should we just say to the families of those who were killed, "Well, God loves you." Even worse, folks will utter the blasphemous phrase, "It was God's will."
We have a need to make sense of tragedy. That is a normal response. Trouble is, sometimes we cannot make sense of tragedy, no matter what we say, or think, or do. and the shootings in Tuscon will never make sense to the families of those who died, or were injured. So, what can people of faith say at such a time? May I suggest that we take the example of Job's friends during the first week of his suffering. They sat in silence while he wailed and protested his innocence. When people are suffering and asking why something happened, do we think that they really want an answer? Does explaining the mental illness of the shooter really help make the event more palatable for the families and victims who survive? Will they be mollified by us explaining the ridiculous gun registration laws in Arizona? Does standing up and defending God to them make any sense? I would say no, it does not. God does not need us to act as defense attorneys. Job's friends ceased to be friends when they began to speak as to the reasons for his suffering. When tragedy occurs, what is needed is a love and silence that envelopes the suffering to let them know that they are not alone. The crazies from Westboro Baptist church have announced that they will picket the funerals of the victims of the shootings. Citizens in Tuscon have responded by planning an "angel action" whereby the families and attendees at the funerals will be shielded from the protesters by a phalanx of persons dressed in angels wings that are large enough to abscond the view of the protesters. Silent, prayerful presence is what they will offer. And that may be exactly what the families need right now, as they try to formulate their own questions. Let us be vigilant, prayerful and in awe of the reality that God will not abandon those who suffer, and never has. That does not mean that all questions are answered. After all, Job never did get answers to his questions or his protests of innocence. What he got, instead, was God. Could he have asked for more? Can we?