Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Looking for God in All the Right Places

Jesus promised his disciples and us that he would be with us “always, until the end of time” (Mt 28:20). Fifteen hundred years later Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, said we should seek to “find God in all things.” So, can we find God, or at least look for him, anywhere and everywhere?

It is probably easiest to seek and find God in things like the beauty of the natural world as well as the wonderful people and events in our lives. There we can find God’s beauty, goodness and generosity, and at such times we can definitely feel truly blessed.

But are these the only places we can seek and find God? Is it possible to find him in sad and difficult situations like sickness, death of a loved one, the experience of being misunderstood or misjudged, the loss of a job, or a relationship that doesn’t work out?

Some people find God through their belief that difficult things have a place in the mysterious plan of God and that even if that plan may be hidden from us now, we will come to understand it more fully when we get to heaven.

I also believe that it is most helpful to seek God as being present and active during the time when difficult things are happening, remembering his assurance that we will never have to face sorrow or suffering alone. We may feel ourselves to be vulnerable and weak, but God will be at our side and in our hearts (often through the love and support of others) to help us go through sad and painful times, giving us moments of comfort and peace as he gently begins to heal our wounds and dry our tears.

So, yes, both joy and sorrow can be places to seek and find God and his love, for God is with us and will stay with us — any time we need him and everywhere we are moved to look for him.