(The following story took place several years ago. Although time has passed, a little boy still goes on without his mother. These were my thoughts at the time, maybe yours too when a tragedy occurs such as this).
A young boy kissed his mother goodbye for the last time yesterday at the wake. He laid her to rest today. He knows she will not come back. He knows he loves her and will miss her. In the years to come he may have more questions, but for now he knows where she is and that is enough.
For the rest of us, we cannot imagine how this could have happened. We have questions. We have heartbreak for this little one. We are a little more angry. We want answers. We demand from a God who did not act. Where was He? Why didn’t He act? Why didn’t He stop this from happening? Why are we left with this? All valid questions when the unthinkable happens to someone we loved. If there is a God and if He is in control of all things, why? For what purpose? What Good can come of this? If He works all things to the Good of those who Love Him? Why this? Why now? When all we are left with is questions, how can we know that this outcome is the best one for us? Is He still Trustworthy, or should we turn our backs because He didn’t work this out the way we wanted?
Then we may feel ashamed that we would question His Wisdom. We know that we are small and finite creatures, fashioned by a Creator who Loves us and knows the number of our days. And though these questions have been asked for ages, there never seems to be solid or satisfactory answers for us. God doesn’t exactly send us an e-mail, text message or appear suddenly to explain Himself. But He does promise to be with us as His children in any and every circumstance. And in the area of tragedies, He speaks unspeakable peace to us. He holds us closely, but we have to be still to know that. When our doubts are greater than His promises, he can’t break through and Comfort us the way that only He can. Our belief in His omniscience is directly tied to our faith. A faith that when it is weak, will only see the negative of the outcome. But when it is filled with the Hope that God knows what He is doing and what He is up to, our Faith increases and we believe that there will be a greater outcome than what is appearing before us in the moment. Something that, down the road, will produce the finishing pieces of that Beautiful Mosaic that He is working on. A greater blessing and outcome than we could ever imagine. Though we will have questions and doubts about what He is up to, He does not have to give us an answer. We may feel like we are left to figure the reasons out on our own, but He gives us hints in His word. With that, we can know that He does love us and still cares for us, even though we have lost someone close to us.
Jesus was a man who knew all about sorrow and heartache. As far as we can tell, He had already lost His father, Joseph by the time He began His ministry. Jesus had some friends in a town called Bethany, two sisters and a brother. He would visit them on occasion during His earthly ministry and apparently knew them before. Taking a look at the story of Jesus raising Lazarus, we understand that word was sent to Jesus while Lazarus was still alive but stricken ill. Jesus waited to go to see His friends for two more days. On their way there, Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was dead. He knew that people were going to believe in Him more now because He would raise His dead friend. Will we do this? Will we really believe that God has allowed our friend or loved one to pass on because it is His good and perfect will and it may lead some to Him? Will we believe that He can heal, but He does not always do so?
Mary and Martha both questioned why Jesus had not come sooner. They felt that their brother would still be alive had He been there. We feel the same way. God, if only You had been here. You could have stopped this. Jesus went on to raise His friend Lazarus and on the last day, he will raise our loved ones. He will unwrap them from their grave clothes and all of the things that bound them down here. Then they will have the Freedom to Forever Enjoy His Presence. Nothing will hold them back from the eternal Joy of knowing Him infinitely.
The questions that first come into our minds when a tragedy happens may at first seem irreverent and ones that we would rather suppress. Asking questions of God seems unfathomable and we may feel that this is not allowed. But I have found a God who is Big Enough to handle all of my questions, doubts and fears. He has been there to hold me and walk with me through some of the worst events of my life. I have found in Him a Friend who not only cares, but cares deeply and is intimately acquainted with grief and suffering. Although we may not think it right to blame Him for tragic events that befall us, He already knows what we are thinking. He has not abandoned us nor neglected us during these times. He may seem distant, but that is due to the nature and closeness of the calamity. It seems like the only real thing at the time and yet His desire is to be so close to us in these times that we can take our questions to Him and find Comfort there. Then we will find that He was with us all along.
A young boy kissed his mother goodbye for the last time yesterday at the wake. He laid her to rest today. He knows she will not come back. He knows he loves her and will miss her. In the years to come he may have more questions, but for now he knows where she is and that is enough.
For the rest of us, we cannot imagine how this could have happened. We have questions. We have heartbreak for this little one. We are a little more angry. We want answers. We demand from a God who did not act. Where was He? Why didn’t He act? Why didn’t He stop this from happening? Why are we left with this? All valid questions when the unthinkable happens to someone we loved. If there is a God and if He is in control of all things, why? For what purpose? What Good can come of this? If He works all things to the Good of those who Love Him? Why this? Why now? When all we are left with is questions, how can we know that this outcome is the best one for us? Is He still Trustworthy, or should we turn our backs because He didn’t work this out the way we wanted?
Then we may feel ashamed that we would question His Wisdom. We know that we are small and finite creatures, fashioned by a Creator who Loves us and knows the number of our days. And though these questions have been asked for ages, there never seems to be solid or satisfactory answers for us. God doesn’t exactly send us an e-mail, text message or appear suddenly to explain Himself. But He does promise to be with us as His children in any and every circumstance. And in the area of tragedies, He speaks unspeakable peace to us. He holds us closely, but we have to be still to know that. When our doubts are greater than His promises, he can’t break through and Comfort us the way that only He can. Our belief in His omniscience is directly tied to our faith. A faith that when it is weak, will only see the negative of the outcome. But when it is filled with the Hope that God knows what He is doing and what He is up to, our Faith increases and we believe that there will be a greater outcome than what is appearing before us in the moment. Something that, down the road, will produce the finishing pieces of that Beautiful Mosaic that He is working on. A greater blessing and outcome than we could ever imagine. Though we will have questions and doubts about what He is up to, He does not have to give us an answer. We may feel like we are left to figure the reasons out on our own, but He gives us hints in His word. With that, we can know that He does love us and still cares for us, even though we have lost someone close to us.
Jesus was a man who knew all about sorrow and heartache. As far as we can tell, He had already lost His father, Joseph by the time He began His ministry. Jesus had some friends in a town called Bethany, two sisters and a brother. He would visit them on occasion during His earthly ministry and apparently knew them before. Taking a look at the story of Jesus raising Lazarus, we understand that word was sent to Jesus while Lazarus was still alive but stricken ill. Jesus waited to go to see His friends for two more days. On their way there, Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was dead. He knew that people were going to believe in Him more now because He would raise His dead friend. Will we do this? Will we really believe that God has allowed our friend or loved one to pass on because it is His good and perfect will and it may lead some to Him? Will we believe that He can heal, but He does not always do so?
Mary and Martha both questioned why Jesus had not come sooner. They felt that their brother would still be alive had He been there. We feel the same way. God, if only You had been here. You could have stopped this. Jesus went on to raise His friend Lazarus and on the last day, he will raise our loved ones. He will unwrap them from their grave clothes and all of the things that bound them down here. Then they will have the Freedom to Forever Enjoy His Presence. Nothing will hold them back from the eternal Joy of knowing Him infinitely.
The questions that first come into our minds when a tragedy happens may at first seem irreverent and ones that we would rather suppress. Asking questions of God seems unfathomable and we may feel that this is not allowed. But I have found a God who is Big Enough to handle all of my questions, doubts and fears. He has been there to hold me and walk with me through some of the worst events of my life. I have found in Him a Friend who not only cares, but cares deeply and is intimately acquainted with grief and suffering. Although we may not think it right to blame Him for tragic events that befall us, He already knows what we are thinking. He has not abandoned us nor neglected us during these times. He may seem distant, but that is due to the nature and closeness of the calamity. It seems like the only real thing at the time and yet His desire is to be so close to us in these times that we can take our questions to Him and find Comfort there. Then we will find that He was with us all along.
RSS Feed
