Question 1

What causes tragedy?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 6:5-8The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” But Noah found favor with the Lord.Leviticus 10:1-2Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.Deuteronomy 11:28“But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.”Joshua 23:15“But as surely as the Lord your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely destroy you from this good land he has given you.”1 Samuel 22:18, 22Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments. . . . David exclaimed, “I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family.”2 Kings 17:7This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.Psalm 34:21Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.Jeremiah 11:9-11Again the Lord spoke to me and said, “I have discovered a conspiracy against me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they beg for mercy, I will not listen to their cries.”Jeremiah 18:11“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”Jeremiah 25:7, 29“But you would not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. . . . I have begun to punish Jerusalem, the city that bears my name. Now should I let you go unpunished? No, you will not escape disaster. I will call for war against all the nations of the earth. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!’Jeremiah 26:3, 13Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins. . . . But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you.Jeremiah 32:21, 23“You brought Israel out of Egypt with mighty signs and wonders, with a strong hand and powerful arm, and with overwhelming terror. . . . Our ancestors came and conquered it and lived in it, but they refused to obey you or follow your word. They have not done anything you commanded. That is why you have sent this terrible disaster upon them.”Jeremiah 44:23“All these terrible things happened to you because you have burned incense to idols and sinned against the Lord. You have refused to obey him and have not followed his instructions, his decrees, and his laws.”Daniel 9:14“Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.”Tragedy sometimes occurs because of disobedience and sin. It may be a natural consequence of the wickedness of sinful actions or a response from God to the rebelliousness of sin itself. At times, one person’s sin has consequences for a broader community.Proverbs 1:25-30“You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.”Tragedy is sometimes caused by ignoring God’s wisdom. The rules and laws he gives are not meant to squelch pleasure or fun, but to keep us out of trouble and bring us life and health.2 Kings 13:1-3Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria seventeen years. But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly.Jeremiah 10:21The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.Micah 3:1-4I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong, but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh from their bones. . . . Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to answer? After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!”Zephaniah 1:4-6“I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship. I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will disappear. For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the Lord, but then they worship Molech, too. And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings.”Tragedy is sometimes caused by the mistakes of ungodly leaders.Ruth 1:21“I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”Job 1:9-12Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.Ecclesiastes 7:14Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.Isaiah 45:7“I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.”Luke 13:1-5About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”John 9:1-3As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”Tragedy is sometimes allowed to test our faith and our response to adversity. While we may not always understand the reason for life’s tragic circumstances, we should not give up trusting God or his ability to bring good out of the situation. If we give up, we usually become bitter and hopeless because we see no value to life whatsoever.

Question 2

How does God help in times of tragedy?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 10:17Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.Psalm 55:17Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.Isaiah 61:3To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.God listens to our prayers and redeems our tragic situations.Psalm 9:9The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.Isaiah 30:20Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.2 Corinthians 1:3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.Hebrews 13:5-6God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”God walks with us in every tragedy, teaching us and giving us strength.Jeremiah 15:16When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.God comforts and guides us with his Word.Psalm 94:18-19I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.Psalm 119:76Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.Romans 8:35-39Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.God continues to love us with an intensity that no tragedy can ever quench.

Question 3

How should I handle tragedy?

Accepted Answer

Job 19:25-27“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”Psalm 33:22Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.Psalm 130:5I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.Psalm 146:5Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.Psalm 147:11No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.Romans 8:34-37Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.Whatever the cause, whatever the circumstances, we can face life with the full assurance of God’s unfailing love for us. Tragedy is temporary, limited only to this earth. God’s love is eternal and everlasting. In fact, it is God’s love that will bring us to a place where tragedy will be no more.Proverbs 10:25When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.Ecclesiastes 9:12People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.Isaiah 33:2But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.Matthew 7:24-27“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”When a tornado sweeps away a home, the foundation remains, a sturdy place upon which to rebuild. When the winds of tragedy strike, even if they blow away everything dear to us, we have a strong foundation to rebuild on: God’s love, power, and faithfulness is that foundation. We may not be able to understand what is happening, but we can trust God to see us through.Psalm 34:6In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.Psalm 55:2Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.Psalm 66:17I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke.Psalm 78:7So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.Psalm 120:1I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.Philippians 4:6-7Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.2 Thessalonians 2:16-17Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.We should go directly and immediately to God—to listen to him, trust him, and find strength in him.Luke 15:17-24“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘. . . I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! . . . We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”If our tragedy is brought on by our own sin, we should confess, repent, return to God, and receive his forgiveness.Job 1:20-22Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.Psalm 31:24So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!Psalm 39:7So, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.Psalm 42:11Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!Psalm 62:5Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.While grief and even despair are natural human emotions, we should not blame God for tragedy or lose hope. We should allow tragedy to bring us closer to God, who cares deeply for us. Tragedies can destroy our faith or help us walk more closely with God—the choice is ours.Proverbs 24:16The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.2 Corinthians 6:4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.2 Corinthians 8:2They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.In times of tragedy, it is easy to focus inward, but instead of feeling depressed or sorry for ourselves, we should look outward to others’ needs. It is often as we respond to the needs of others that we find our own troubles put into perspective.

Question 4

How can I help others cope with tragedy?

Accepted Answer

Job 2:11When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.Job 21:34“How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!”Psalm 69:20Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.We can comfort and console those who are suffering. Often our presence is more important than our words.Romans 15:26For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.We can meet their physical needs in practical, compassionate ways. Small gifts often turn into great blessing.1 Kings 17:20Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”Psalm 20:1In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.2 Corinthians 1:8-11We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.We can intercede in prayer for people in distress.Nehemiah 2:17Now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!”We can encourage those who are suffering to keep going and, when the time is right, help them rebuild.