I’ve been asked this question quite a bit lately. Why? Why would God allow [insert any number of tragic circumstances here]?
There’s so many “standard” answers to this age old question.
“We live in a fallen, sinful world.”
“Because man is sinful, we make sinful choices and then suffer the consequences.”
“God is doing something that you just can’t see right now. One day it will all make sense.”
“What God is doing IN you is more important than what is being done TO you.”
You know what… sometimes when asked this question, it’s okay to say “I don’t know.”
Just because I am a Christian and I believe wholeheartedly in life-changing power of Jesus, doesn’t mean I am exempt from bad things happening while on this earth. And as much as we would love to know WHY… sometimes we just can’t.
In those moments, this is what I do know:
Hebrews 13:8 (NLTSB)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Good circumstances don’t prove that. Bad circumstances don’t disprove that.
Psalms 147:3 (ESV)
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
In the midst of tragedy and heartache there is nothing like the healing power of Jesus.
Isaiah 53:5 (NLTSB)
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
He loves us immeasurably and paid the ultimate price.
John 16:33 (NLTSB)
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
In the trial and sorrow I can still have peace in Him.
You may never understand “why” in this lifetime, but in every situation, good or bad, He is still the one and only God, who brings healing and comfort in your time of need. Don’t allow the unanswered “why” to undo what you already know to be true about the One who loves you more than you could ever comprehend.
