Our community has been recently struck by many tragedies. There have been sad stories of “good people” who have been diagnosed with life-threatening ailments, terminal cancer, and unfortunately, a few instances of death.
We naturally question and wonder the purpose of these tragedies. We struggle and strain to understand how this could happen to “such good people.” Then, one of the crazy Christians typically chimes in with “Well, it is all a part of God’s plan that (fill in the name) is sick and God is in control.”
Is that true? Am supposed to be ok with the fact that God allowed my friend to be sick or knew one of my family members was going to die? Why would God want me to suffer, mourn, or be sad?
Honestly, I struggle mightily with this. What I have come to realize is that faith in Jesus means we are focused on living for eternity and not for this world. The intense pain and sadness we feel is real and can be unbearable. Unfortunately, tragedy can drive a person to a very unhappy life of regret, anger, and sadness. Tragic circumstances can drive us toward God, or unfortunately, farther away.
Jesus says in John 6, “I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” This means if we live a life without Jesus, we will always “hunger” for what life in this world wants us to do. We want more control, more material excess, more money, more whatever drives us away from our faith in Jesus. We will never be happy nor satisfied. When we get what we want, we do not need anyone else, including Jesus. When we follow Jesus, he provides “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Life is hard. Living life without faith can push us to the brink. Tragedy infuriates us. Sadness hardens us. Bad relationships exasperate us. Frustration and a lack of control create a never-ending cycle of bad decisions and regrets.
The Bible is filled with story after story of disciples, prophets, and characters who suffered heartache, torture, and death living and witnessing for Christ. The road to heaven is not promised to be easy, without heartache, disappointment, trials and sometimes unbearable circumstances. I am not here to say I deal well with challenges easily nor can I relate to the tragedies and horrible circumstances some of our friends and family deal with. Many of you reading this right now have dealt with more than I can ever imagine.
What I have come to learn is that the only way to fulfillment and satisfaction in this life is through the humility of knowing that we are not always in control. No matter how much we resist and fight that reality, we must ultimately put our faith and trust in the Lord. In times of tragedy, faith in Christ is the ONLY thing that pulls some people through it. Knowing that their loved one believes Jesus died on the cross, means they will see them again someday, if they too believe. I am saddened to think of friends and family that leave this world, with their husbands, wives, or young children not knowing or believing they will ever see their loved one again. To me, that is truly death.
As a Christian, I believe life in temporary. The pain, trials, and suffering prepare and lead us to a relationship with Jesus. My worst fear is that people who are suffering do not have a loved one, friend, or neighbor who reach out to witness or invite them to learn more about Jesus. So many people struggle, and they have not been introduced to Jesus. What I have come to understand is that learning about Jesus is a journey. There are layers upon layers of learning that are strengthened when I devote regular time to listen, learn and pray. I was never able to build a strong relationship with my Savior through a “drive by” relationship by attending church on an irregular basis or not reading scripture when I wasn’t in church. The Bible is complex, can be confusing, and requires commitment to understand. The more you study, the more you learn, the more you understand.
So, the answer is yes, God knows about our sadness, heartache and tragedies. His ultimate purpose is for us to humble ourselves and seek Him. He wants a relationship with us and uses all types of circumstances to get our attention.
If you are dealing with anger and doubt regarding your relationship with Jesus because of a terrible life event, please seek help “unpacking” the complexity of your situation and apply a Biblical understanding. Seek a church community with brothers and sisters in Christ that will embrace your tragedy and help you make sense of it, when you are ready. A challenging and evolving relationship with Christ is so much better than a wandering, purposeless life without Him.
Father God, please wash over us with your presence and peace when we are suffering. When the sadness is nearly impossible to bare, we know that you are the ONLY thing that can heal our broken heart. You are the only thing that provides a peace with understanding that brings our hearts and minds closer to you. Lead us to you, oh Lord. We want to follow you. Amen
