When Tragedy Strikes!

Recently, I know of three different families (two families I know, one I don't), within a week of each other, who have lost a loved one. In two cases - a son. In the other case - a grandson. First of all, I can't imagine the pain, grieving, and brokeness these families must be feeling. It is unimaginable to think of losing a child. My heart is broken and hurting for these families. Then I think of the families of Greensburg, Kansas who last week saw their entire town leveled by an F5 tornado. Being from Kansas - my heart sunk when I saw this town destroyed and lives lost. How can you prepare for tragedies such as these? Secondly, I put myself in their shoes and wonder how I would react if I was to lose my wife, daughters, or grandson. Besides the normal reaction of the grieving process, would I respond with anger and bitterness towards God for allowing such a tragedy to strike? Would I be dissapointed with God? Would I turn my back on Him for His unthoughtfulness to take such dear people from me? Or would I understand that my children and wife are on borrowed time? Would I realize that they are a treasure from the Lord but that ultimately they are His? Would I respond with praise knowing they are His children (each of them knowing Christ as their personal Lord and Savior), and that they are in the presence of the Lord?

I must be honest, that in my humanness, I fear that I would be angry, disappointed, and upset with God. Why do I say that? Because I have felt that way before. But what about what the Bible says? Doesn't it say that God is love (I John 4:16) and that He lavishes His love on us (I John 3:1)? How could a "loving" God allow such pain into our lives? Why is it that God just doesn't make sense? It seems that He doesn't make sense more times than not. My dear friend, tragedy is lurking right around the corner in our lives. You have either been through one, or you are going through one, or you are about to go through one. It's not a matter of if but when. It might not be by losing a loved one such as a child, but it could be in the area of finances, health, family, church, etc. How do we get the right perspective on this subject? I'm glad you asked! We go to God's Word. Let me share with you two things that have helped me when tragedy strikes.

1. Write on a rock. That's right - get a rock and write on it. I know you are thinking that I have fallen off my rocker. Well, your probably right - I turned 40 and a grandpa all in the same year. LOL. If you look at the life of Job you will see tragedy after tragedy in his life. Here is a person who lost his means of income, his family, and suffered personal turmoil. How did a man, who was considered blameless and upright (Job 1:1), respond? He responded with grief (1:20), frustration (3:1), anguish (6:2-3), disgust (10:1), questions (10:2-3), disappointment and isolation (23). Yet, Job remained blameless and didn't charge God with wrongdoing. Even in the storm of doubt, pain, and disappointment - Job praised God. Job wrote on a rock the following words: "I kow that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand..." (Job 19:25) Is that not awesome? In spite of tragedy after tragedy - Job proclaimed that God lives and that He will forever stand. That He is eternal. So what should you write on your rock? Let me encourage you to do this. On one side of the rock - write out a question for God, or your disappointment with God, or your frustration with God. Be honest. Besides, He knows how you feel. On the other side - write down some praise to God. I trust the Holy Spirit will guide you as you give praise, honor, and glory that He so deserves. It's okay to question God. Give him your burdens and cares. He will hear and answer you. I think my favorite verse in Job is the following: "Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm." (38:1). Wow - what great hope we have. That in the face of tragedy and the storms of life - God is there and we will hear from Him.

2. The comfort you receive will then be used to comfort others. II Corinthians 1:4 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those any in trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." In our times of tragedy - God will comfort us. Others will comfort us as well, because they have gone through similar tragedies. Then at some point, we will comfort others. Can you see it? I call it "The Comfort Cycle". What a great promise we can cling to as we face life's surprises and help others face them as well.

Does God makes sense? Not all the time. Does God allow bad things to happen? Yep! Does He care? You better believe it. Does He want it to grow us, teach us to depend on Him, and trust that He has a plan - that all things (bad and good) work together for good? You better believe it.

I can say with confidence today that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. Let me encourage you to join with me that in the good times - we praise Him and in the bad times - we praise Him.

Blessings!

Rick