When a "simple carpenter" lost his brand new glasses in the midst of the Great Depression he was devastated. Now, almost a century later, the story is helping illustrate how God is at work when we can't see.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are asking the age-old question, "If there really is a loving God then why is there suffering?" Pastor Anthony Reimer from Blumenort Community Church in Blumenort, Man. took to social media this week to try and answer the question.

In the illustration Reimer shares the story of a person's grandfather who was a carpenter. The man was making crates that were being used to ship clothing to an orphanage in China that his church supported.

When the carpenter was done his work he realized his glasses were missing. As he replayed his steps in his mind he realized that his glasses must have fallen from his pocket and were now in one of the crates that were hammered closed and on their way to China. 

"I'll admit, I don't understand what God is up to right now with what is going on in the world. But I am resolving to trust Him."

The glasses had cost the man $20 (almost $300 in 2020 dollars), and he had six kids to feed. He was understandably upset.

"It's not fair," the man said as he prayed to God on his journey home. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money, and now this."

Reimer says that a few months later the director of the orphanage was on furlough and went on a speaking tour of the churches that supported him. That included the carpenter's church. The director thanked the church for the clothing they had sent.

"But most of all, I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see the communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money there was just no way to replace the glasses."

The missionary said that he experienced headaches every day. He and his co-workers prayed fervently daily for a solution.

"Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers they found a pair of glasses lying on top ... folks, when I tried on those glasses it was as though they had been custom made just for me."

Most members of the church were happy for the missionary but confused, Reimer says, as they did not send any glasses. But in the back of the church, the carpenter sat and quietly sobbed as he heard how God had worked through his misfortune to provide somebody else with a miracle.

"God had a much grander plan in mind," Reimer says. "Can we trust God with what to us looks like a great tragedy right now, and believe that He has some much grander plan in mind for us?"

Reimers quotes Proverbs 3:5 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (NIV).

"I'll admit, I don't understand what God is up to right now with what is going on in the world. But I am resolving to trust Him. Trusting Him that He has a much grander plan in mind than you or I could understand right now."