Trying to Make Sense of Tragedy

There have been a couple of tragedies lately in our small town.  One man was killed in a vehicle collision and another tragedy was when a single mother and her daughter died in a fire that consumed the house (with several apartments in it) they were living in. 

Someone local posted about the tragedy involving the fire and one of her comments asked whether or not there is really a God or a "Higher Power" because how could He let these terrible things happen.  

I can only speak about my own situation in regards to the character of God seen through my experience of losing my son at the age of 17 months old, four years ago.

The verse that first comes to mind is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God was willing to give up his only son for the salvation of others (while we were still sinners). He knows what grief feels like and he cares for us deeply. I can’t imagine choosing to allow your son die because you know that in doing so it will save many.

The way that I look at the situation is that we are like fish in a fishbowl who really only see what is in front of us and we don’t see the whole picture. We don’t know why God works the way he does…we just see the loss (in our case, our little Caleb) and we don’t understand God’s big plan and why he chose to take Caleb home so soon.

I also have looked at the pain at times like a child would look at having to have a vaccine. The child does not understand why he has to experience pain at the time and sometimes not for many years to come does she/he fully understand why they had to endure the shots. I probably will not know fully the reasons why the Lord chose to take Caleb until I enter Heaven.

Sometimes I see glimpses of good that have come out of a horrible tragedy of losing my precious son. I think to myself that, although I would have never chose the path that God has chosen for me, I will trust my Heavenly Father, who has given me these children as gifts and loves them more than I ever could with a perfect love.

Psalm 127:3 Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

I am very saddened for the people who lost their lives in the fire and for everyone who is grieving for them. Grief is a heavy burden to bear…I can’t imagine trying to carry it without God’s help. I honestly don’t think that I would be here today if I didn’t have a deep trust and faith in my Heavenly Father.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. That verse has helped bring me comfort as I have walked this road of grief. I pray that God can work through that verse and other verses to help comfort anyone out there who is hurting.