Why Does God Allow Tragedy?

Why Does God Allow Tragedy?

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18

During the first fourteen years of my life, my faith in God was innocent. It wasn’t built on struggle or hardship, and it had never been tested. My life was pretty sheltered, and I was happy. I believed God was all-powerful and ever present. The role models in my life all demonstrated grace and kindness, which further reinforced my belief that God was good.

And then, one horrible day, my close friends (and distant cousins) Jimmy and Jerry Alday were senselessly murdered, along with several of their family members. Jimmy, Jerry, and I had worked summers together selling watermelons at the Atlanta State Farmers Market, and those two hardworking, God-fearing men had a tremendous influence on my life and faith. And in an instant they were gone.

For a long time after that, I accused God of turning his back on his people and not being powerful enough to take care of them.Where were you when the Aldays were murdered? I silently raged. Why didn’t you protect them?

During the summer following their deaths, I spent hours at the market sitting alone with my memories, frightened by the prospect of evil. Heaven, which had once seemed as close to me as the wind in the trees, now seemed unapproachable. Sin had new depths, depravity had new meaning, and I felt vulnerable to the darkness.

My big brothers and earthly protectors were gone, and I was no longer certain that my heavenly Protector could be trusted. In fact, God seemed useless to me now.

It took years for God to woo me back to himself. Only as the Lord began to soften my heart did I recognize that he had been with me all along. Why hadn’t I seen or heard him? Could it be that I had been the one to turn away from God just when I needed him most?

Over the course of my life and practice, I’ve learned that God does not willingly harm his people; rather, he is a God of infinite compassion. In times of grief, I encourage you to turn toward God instead of away from him.

TODAY’S RX

Ask God to help you see and celebrate his glory where it shows up—in the midst of pain as well as in joy.

Father, thank you for being a God of infinite compassion. Help me to keep my eyes focused on eternity and to celebrate your glory in the midst of pain as well as joy.