In The Wake Of Tragedy

Answers. That’s what people desperately desire in the face of unspeakable grief.  And there will be plenty of people offering their opinion, trying to make sense out of that which is utterly senseless.  But to those of us who would venture an explanation, the words H.L. Mencken stand as a sobering reminder,

“Explanations exist; they have existed for all time; there is always a well-known solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.”

No—I don’t have an answer to the senseless tragedy that took place in Newtown, Connecticut any more that you do.  But I do know of an action you and I can take in the aftermath of this, and any other horror we will witness or even experience in life.  We can run to God.  The psalmist wrote in Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you,
O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

I am so thankful that my trust is in the Lord.  He is indeed a shelter and a refuge. Not that I have been kept from hardship and tragedy—neither have you.  We’ve had our share, and perhaps will experience more in the future.  As Jesus said, the rain falls on the just and unjust alike.  The difference is, we know to whom we can run when it’s raining—our loving Shelter.  We know where to go in times of trouble—our great Refuge.

That is one of the things I love most about the faith that I’ve placed in Jesus Christ as my Savior. No matter what, I win! When trouble hits, I win because God delivers me from all of my troubles. (Psalm 34:17, Psalm 41:1) Even when I or a loved-one goes through the tragedy of terminal illness, relational heartbreak, economic disaster, or premature death—or even when I’m grieving the slaughter of innocent children—I belong to a God who

Holds my hand—“I never will I leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Provides my daily bread—“My God will supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)

Turns my tragedy to triumph—“In all things God works for the good.” (Romans 8:28)

Trumps death with eternal life—“He who believes in me, even though he dies, will live again.” (John 11:24-26)

Permanently turn my tears to joy and make everything new one day soon—“He will wipe away every tear.” (Revelation 21:4)

Even though life doesn’t always turn out as we have planned, God will never abandon us. He has a track record of faithfulness and goodness going all the way back to the beginning. So determine now to trust him at all times, and when the tough times come around, don’t abandon the only one who will never abandon you.

“Don’t forget in the darkness what you learned in the light.”  ~Joseph Bayly

Reflect and Apply: Read and reflect on what Hebrews 10:35-37 says: “So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. ‘For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.’” In light of the unspeakable horror you have witnessed in this world, or the personal tragedy you have experienced in your own life, what is this verse saying to you?