How does God meet our NEED?

Since I wrote last this is what has come up, or rather laid on my heart...

NEED!

There is so much of it in the world right now. How does God do it? How does God see, hear, feel all of the world's need? Cry over it, wrap his arms around it? How does God take it into himself, bear it all, make it all work out for good?

loneliness and depression, cancer, alcoholism, divorce, families separated by ecconomic downturn, hunger, brokeness, joblessnes, homelessness,

Each one of these horrors has stepped into my life just over the past couple of weeks, not in my own life, but in the lives of people close to me, people I love. Just last night one of our long time friends who is in desperate need asked me, "Why is it like this? Is God testing our faith?"

I don't know why this is happening, but I do know that every need is known by God. I do know that He never leaves us, but rather remains with us (closer than our own skins) through every trial. In this world where the lonely live, God places friends. Where the depressed suffer, God places helpers. Where the sick, broken, hungry and homeless cry out God places his people to be his hands and feet.

Scripture tells us that from the very beginning God knew of our need. God provided a place for us, food for us, relationship in community for us. When human kind became separated from the intimate relationship of love and trust God intended from the beginning, God came in Person through Jesus. When Jesus returned to the Father, the Spirit of God came to dwell among us.

So I ask again, How does God do it? How does God see, hear, feel all of the world's need? Cry over it, wrap his arms around it? How does God take it into himself, bear it all and make it all work out for good?

By being present NOT far off, NOT distant. God's Spirit lives in God's church, in every one of God's children, in every act of love and grace, in every act of kindness and healing word.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLy-B9LuqMo