What a wonderful Thanksgiving we shared together last Sunday. There was a baptism, and take-aways and even chocolate given out after the service. If you weren’t there, you missed a doozy (is that even a word?) of a service!

We have so much to be grateful for, don’t we? Many of us acknowledge that we are grateful to God for all He has done and will continue to do in our lives. Yet somehow amidst these grateful thoughts and expressions toward God we still doubt, don’t we?

I would be lying if I told you I never doubted. Just last night I was watching the news and in less than 30 minutes I saw and heard about political unrest, tragic deaths, illegal transactions, nations bombing nations, and innocent people dying. That was before the first commercial break. It was overwhelming.

Sometimes I wonder at how the world seems to be unravelling. Where is God?

Do you ever doubt? I know that there are some of you who don’t. You have a deep trust and faith that at times defies understanding. I used to think you were naive, or maybe a little phony but I don’t think that anymore. Now I believe that you are blessed, or rather that you are gifted with faith. That is an amazing gift.

But there are others of us who wonder "Where is God?" when a loved one gets sick or when a relationship falls apart. "Where is God?" as I pray for the starving children or the senseless wars in other parts of the world?

Do you remember the story of the disciples when they were in the boat? If you recall, Jesus was on the mountainside praying and a huge storm came in.

As the wind howled and the waves beat against the boat, Jesus came to them walking on the water. We read that the disciples "were terrified” (Matthew 14: 22-33). In the midst of the unknown, the uncertainty, the fear and the struggle, it is obvious by reading Matthew’s account that the disciples were not expecting what they saw. In fact, because Jesus came in a way they didn’t expect, they almost missed seeing the answer to their prayers.

Maybe that is true for us as well, in the midst of our unknown, our uncertainty, our fear, and our struggle - and in the midst of our doubts - we need to look and listen closely or we may run the risk of making the same mistake.

God is present, even in the midst of our doubt, if only we’ll look.

"Where is God?" He is closer than you think!