“Where Were You?”

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38–39 (KJV)

Next, Antony went to live alone in an empty tomb some distance from his village. These were large old burial chambers, not like modern graves. A friend brought him bread every few days.

Athanasius tells how, one night, Antony was attacked so violently that he was left lying on the ground, unable to speak. Athanasius describes it as an attack by the devil and his demons. The next day his friend found him lying there as if dead, and carried him back to the village church.

That night Antony came round. Instead of staying safely in the village, he asked his friend to carry him straight back to the tombs. There, still too hurt to stand, he prayed lying down and then called out:

“Here am I, Antony; I flee not from your stripes, for even if you inflict more nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ.”

Then he sang a line from Psalm 27: “though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.”

Athanasius says that after more terrifying experiences, Antony looked up and saw light breaking through the roof, and the attack ended. Then Antony asked a very honest question:

“Where wert thou? Why didst thou not appear at the beginning to make my pains to cease?”

And Athanasius records the answer Antony heard:

“Antony, I was here, but I waited to see thy fight.”

Have you ever asked God, “Where were you?” Maybe in a hard time, when you felt alone. Antony asked that too. And the answer he heard was: I was here all along.

You don’t need to fear evil or try to have dramatic spiritual battles like this. Athanasius tells this story to show that Christ is stronger than any power of darkness, and that nothing can separate us from God’s love. If you are going through something frightening or painful, God is with you, even when you can’t feel it. And please don’t go through it alone. Talk to someone you trust.

One thing to do this week: if you are in a hard time, pray Antony’s honest question: “Lord, where are you?” Then read Romans 8:35–39 slowly and hear God’s answer: nothing can separate you from his love.