When You’re Trying to Remember Who God Is

If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire,
and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king.
Daniel 3:17 (CSB)“Remind me who God is.” These words keep ringing in my ears, a mandate from a grieving friend as we stood near the casket of her 26-year-old son. We hugged hard. She grabbed my shoulders and repeated her edict: “Remind me who God is.”

Nobody should have to bury a child, but they do. My friends just did. My parents did too. And I’m trying so hard to remember for myself who God really is. Who is God when real life comes knocking with a blow so forceful you can’t stand against it? Who is God when everything you’ve planned for and dreamed of is altered, not just slightly, but forever?

Death. Divorce. Illness. Life has changed, and it will never look, feel, taste the same as it did before. Who is God through it all?

I do know this. It’s okay to question and doubt. Throughout the Bible, examples abound of people who wondered about God. Wonder is okay. It may even be good for us.

I read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — Daniel’s buddies who refused to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. The king gave them one more chance to “do the right thing” and bow before his shiny likeness, but still the three refused. Their rationale? “But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up” (Daniel 3:18).

But even if he doesn’t . . .

These words, strangely, have given me so much hope. They have strengthened my faith in the past and they help today as I process the death of a too-young man.

But here’s what I know about God: He has not left our side. He is there, walking right beside us, weeping with us. He grieves with us. Because He loves us.

“Remind me who God is.” I’m just beginning to remember.

Remind your heart who God is today. He is the God who sees you and walks with you and grieves with you. He is the God who will always and forever love you.

This message was written by Shelly Wildman and appears in A Moment to Breathe, a 365-day devotional now available where books are sold.