A disaster like we have experienced here in Mena brings so many emotions and thoughts to mind that I have a hard time sorting them out. The big question that is on my mind along with many others is; Why does God allow things like this to happen? I have many more questions than answers, but I feel that I have to address the question.
There are many events that have caused people to ask, "why". I don't have the answers as to why so many tragedies happen. I do know that ever since sin came into this world through Satan there have been terrible tragedies. I suppose that Adam and Eve asked "why" when Cain killed his brother Abel.
The only promise that a Christian has in this life is that there will be trouble. Our trouble free existence will be in Heaven where God will wipe away all tears.
When a tragedy happens, God says ask your questions, but don't stop there. God has given a much greater opportunity. God challenges us to turn to Him for answers. God challenges us to argue with Him. God challenges us to trust Him explicitly.
Bad things happen in this world, to good people, and to bad people, although it seems like the good people get the worst. Murphy's law seems to be all too true. Why do bad things happen to good people? More specifically, why do bad things happen to me? God rarely answers that question. He would pour out only goodness on us all the
time, if He could, but because we live in a sinful world, He can't. Men have free will, and God will not override it.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Because we live in a sinful world. I know that's not the kind of answer we like, but there is no better answer available.
Once you have learned this and deepened your faith that God has everything under control, then maybe there is a better way to approach the bad things that happen. Don't ask "Why Me, Lord?" when something bad happens. Ask God how He wants you to respond, and then leave the consequences in His hands.
It is all in the response. God can always bring good out of bad, but He needs us to cooperate with Him to bring out the greatest good. This is why Paul can say "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Rejoice when good things happen, rejoice when bad things happen, because we can trust God to do what is for our
eternal best.
What a privilege to help bring good from bad...blessing to all of you at ground zero in Mena! ~Janine
ReplyDeleteIndeed, such events (among others), of course, lead to the question "Why". And are we getting punished for our sins, with events like this? Perhaps, I don't know. But, perhaps, it is, as you say, a sign from God. For us to improve. But we don't, it seems. Because bad things are happening all the time.
ReplyDeleteThis might not have much to do with this post, but it did remind me of what the wife of the captain who was being held captive by pirates said before he was freed and the outcome did not look good. She said, "God is good." And indeed, He is. We just have to keep the faith.
ReplyDeleteThank you Richies for your post. It is SO difficult to understand the why of things when diasasters such as this happen. For me the fact that tragedy happens is not so much a result of what I've (we've) done but rather a result of just the way things happen and are in this world.
ReplyDeleteAgain, for me is that we have the choice to understand them as an opportunity experience God's amazing and redeeming grace in an imperfect world.
This was such a well written and well thought out post. I love how you convey such amazing messages in a simple manner. I would love to hear you preach!
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