Faces on Faith: Where is God?
One hundred years after the Civil War men, women and children of color were still being denied basic rights. Segregation was the law of the land in many parts of the country, and practiced de facto, in others. But brave souls of all races engaged in a renewed effort to right the wrongs of racism in an effort we have come to speak of as the Civil Rights Movement.
As one of the key leaders of the movement, Martin Luther King often faced many days of darkness and fear. His life was often threatened. One night, in Alabama, during the bus boycott that proved so instrumental in bringing about change, he received an especially frightening phone call. “Listen nigger,” hissed the anonymous caller. “We’ll take all we want from you; before next week, you’ll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery.” (A Testament of Hope, 509)
King could not sleep after the call. He paced the floor. He considered how he might remove himself from the scene without impairing the cause, without appearing to be a coward. Finally, at the kitchen table, he determined to carry his concern to God. He prayed with more fervor than ever before: “I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right,” he said. “But now I am afraid. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.” (Ibid)
But then came the reminder. What King would later describe as “the quiet assurance of an inner voice.” (Ibid) A voice reminding him that he was not alone. “Stand up for righteousness,” he was told, “stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.” (Ibid) And with a renewed sense of God’s presence, the fear, the worry, the sense of being abandoned disappeared. Even when his home was bombed just three days later, King was able to carry on his efforts. For he had been reminded, God was with him as he marched, as he spoke, as he stood up for the good, the right and the true.
Few if any of us are being threatened by anonymous callers in the middle of the night. But we all face those times when fear and despair seem overpowering. A spouse is desperately ill. A loved one dies. A son or daughter goes through a divorce. A job is lost. Most of us face those times when we wonder if God is truly present.
Maybe that’s where you are today, as we face the surge in the Covid pandemic, the increasing concern about climate change, the ongoing racial struggles in our nation. Maybe you too are wondering where to find the Holy One — where to find the comfort and peace you have longed for in the midst of trouble, in the midst of fear. But there is good news — God is here — right in the midst of it all. And if we will only watch and listen, we too will see signs of divine love. We too will hear words of encouragement. We may not see angels, we may not have dreams, but we will see and hear God.
The Rev. Dr. John H. Danner is the senior pastor at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ.