How should I handle tragedy?

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.