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How Can We Make Sense
of Tragedy?
On the front page of the Los Angeles
Times today is a photo of the coffins of the five Houston children
whose mother is accused of systematically drowning them. At this
point it is being reported that it happened because of a psychosis
brought on by severe postpartum depression.
It makes no sense that something like this "should be allowed to happen."
Didn't someone know what was going on? Didn't someone see the signs?
Couldn’t God have stopped it?
Last week we read of an El Segundo 5th
grader who was killed because the way he was riding his skateboard – lying
down, luge-style - made him completely invisible to the driver of the car
that struck him. It makes no sense, either. Isn’t God paying attention?
Such extremely tragic and painful events
chip away at our confidence in "the way things are supposed to be."
Our hearts cry out, "Shouldn't life make more sense thin it does?"
"Why doesn't God come through for his people?" and the ever- popular, "I
don't deserve this!" How can God's people respond to, not just this
sort of incredibly difficult situation, but even the normal struggles of
life? Sometimes none of it makes sense.
Some Christians think it's all supposed
to work out "ok," that if we just follow "the rules" (but whose version?),
if we just do "what's right" (but by what standard?), then God will HAVE
to bless us with safety, happiness, and prosperity. In our minds,
we often think we've made a sort of bargain with God: we do what
we think is right, and he does everything else (or maybe almost everything-we
don't want to seem greedy!) This sort of question mystifies many
in the church because when we're really honest with ourselves, things just
don't always go smoothly. Sometimes they go horribly wrong.
There is a strain of Christianity, one
very popular today, that even denies the reality of suffering and problems,
or worse, when confronted with inescapable reality (after all, everyone
eventually dies!), doubts God's care and even very existence. Just
believe, have faith, and God will bless you!! Pray a certain prayer
every day and you'll be prosperous! Just trust Jesus and he'll take
care of you! Nonsense!
What!!?? Doesn't it work that
way??!! Well, this all sounds so right (but from a very limited
point of view) and spiritual (from a very self-centered point of view),
but it is really utter nonsense. It takes the hopeful passages of
scripture out of context, places the emphasis for life entirely on us,
and makes Jesus look like a fool for choosing the path of love, forgiveness,
suffering and obedience. Now you see where I'm going?
The world is utterly broken, more in need
of a Savior today than ever. We in this country live in a time of
such peace and prosperity, at least relative to the rest of the world and
history, that when things go awry, we cry, "FOUL! It's not supposed to
be this way! I PAID MY DUES!" We don't realize that the moments
of light, blessing and peace that we enjoy are transient, meant to be enjoyed
for all they're worth, and most of all, meant to inspire us to care for
others who are struggling and hurting. We only get glimpses of heaven,
seeing dimly what we are and how things really work. Our selfish
nature, rearing its ugly head, demands that the world exist for our happiness
and pleasure.
When we look at life from God's perspective,
we see things much more clearly We see ourselves as being here to comfort
and love, heal and forgive. The world is not here for us-rather we
are here to serve and be Jesus' presence in the world.
So, when confronted by this kind of pain,
what is God's person to do? Grab hold of those God had given you
to love and care for them unselfishly. Then they will learn to genuinely
love, too. Embrace those who are hurting in life because they need
to see Jesus' care for them. Then they will have some chance of having
their souls mended by the only one who can. In so doing, you will
begin to see that things do make sense when you are part of God's solution,
and your soul will rejoice.
Blessings!
Pastor Larry
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