Tragedy

Several friends of mine have been hit extremely hard with terrible tragedies in just the past few days. My heart goes out to them as they work through their grief and sadness. Tragedy seems to just completely come out of the blue and it strikes with such a cruel vengeance. One minute you are just rocking along sitting on top of the world and then with one phone call your whole world comes crashing down. It is gut-wrenching.

One wrote to me that they do not think that they can bear the pain. My response was that it cannot be endured alone and they must draw close to God during this time. The Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” in the Bible and when tragedy strikes He is there quietly earnestly praying for us. According to the Bible He prays in ways that we cannot pray ourselves and in a language that only God can understand. He understands us and knows what we need at all times including when we are enduring the pain and grief and He intercedes for us and petitions God on our behalf.

Death is satan’s most cruel weapon against us. Although we must all go through it and we expect it as the natural end to this life, we never get used to it. It is just too difficult to comprehend that one minute someone is alive and here with us laughing and enjoying life and the next they are gone on to their next life. It is especially savage when it happens long before it should and a child is taken from us. No loving parent ever wants to outlive their children.

I hear all of the baloney spouted by the atheists and the agnostics, but when death comes calling they are not so smug or clever with their rhetoric and their pain cannot be masked and will not subside. Christians on the other hand do experience pain but have the promise of something better in the next life. The Bible assures us that even though life on earth is but a mere vapor that will soon evaporate and be gone, eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior will be forever. We should look to that day in times of tragedy and know that soon we will be reunited with those who have gone on before us and oh what a day of rejoicing that will be.

I have experienced more than my fair share of grief and tragedy in my life and I have found that tranquillizers don’t work. Only drawing close to God in prayer, studying the Bible, and quiet reflection can soothe our aching empty hearts and are the best medicine. God knows our pain because he too lost a Son under the most tragic circumstance. We know He loves us so much that He was willing to allow it to happen to Him in order that we might one day be free from satan and all of his misery with death at the top of his list. It will take time and it will take prayer, but any Christian can and will get through it. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and His love, compassion, peace and gentleness will come. Just trust Him and turn it all over to Him my brothers and sisters

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to
you, that in Me you may have
peace. In the world you will have
tribulation; but be of good cheer,
I have overcome the world.