"Today I'm asking, "Why would someone kill 32 people, most of them kids, at Virginia Tech? (I can't write the words without seeing the bloody image of a victim being carried out on of a building). Behind that question lingers a harder question: Why would God allow such a terrible thing to happen?
If a friend who's hurting asks you that question the best answer is no answer. Just silence and a hug, a tear, and a prayer.
Of course, hundreds of books have been written which attempt to answer the question: Why does God allow suffering? While no answer removes the pain of a loss, I've found that with understanding comes comfort and hope. I've discovered in the Bible a number of truths:
First, life is difficult and God is good. Just as an artist uses black paint to make shadows, without which a painting would have no contrast, so God uses hardship in our lives. In Romans 8:28 Paul declares that God uses "all" things for the good of those who love him.
Second, God allows us to suffer to enable us to comfort others. The person who has been wrapped in the blanket of God's comfort is best able to offer it to a hurting friend. A parent who has grieved the loss of a child is best able to offer comfort to another grieving parent. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Third, God allows us to suffer to show us our weakness so we can rely on his strength. Paul said he suffered so that, "we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9).
Fourth, while my losses may confound and anger me, God knows what he's doing. Job freely challenged the goodness and wisdom of God after the loss of his family, wealth and health. After God had addressed his questions, Job said, "I spoke of things I did not understand. Things too wonderful for me to know" (Job 41:3).
Fifth, while God created man with the potential to do evil, God is not responsible for evil and suffering. We are. The choice to sin and walk away from God brought with it many consequences--including suffering and death.
I know that when I hurt the most, while the pain lingered, the assurance that God is up to something good gave me strength. I think the psalmist said it best: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea . . .
'Be still, and know that I am God'" (Psalm 46:1-2, 10). "
If a friend who's hurting asks you that question the best answer is no answer. Just silence and a hug, a tear, and a prayer.
Of course, hundreds of books have been written which attempt to answer the question: Why does God allow suffering? While no answer removes the pain of a loss, I've found that with understanding comes comfort and hope. I've discovered in the Bible a number of truths:
First, life is difficult and God is good. Just as an artist uses black paint to make shadows, without which a painting would have no contrast, so God uses hardship in our lives. In Romans 8:28 Paul declares that God uses "all" things for the good of those who love him.
Second, God allows us to suffer to enable us to comfort others. The person who has been wrapped in the blanket of God's comfort is best able to offer it to a hurting friend. A parent who has grieved the loss of a child is best able to offer comfort to another grieving parent. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Third, God allows us to suffer to show us our weakness so we can rely on his strength. Paul said he suffered so that, "we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9).
Fourth, while my losses may confound and anger me, God knows what he's doing. Job freely challenged the goodness and wisdom of God after the loss of his family, wealth and health. After God had addressed his questions, Job said, "I spoke of things I did not understand. Things too wonderful for me to know" (Job 41:3).
Fifth, while God created man with the potential to do evil, God is not responsible for evil and suffering. We are. The choice to sin and walk away from God brought with it many consequences--including suffering and death.
I know that when I hurt the most, while the pain lingered, the assurance that God is up to something good gave me strength. I think the psalmist said it best: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea . . .
'Be still, and know that I am God'" (Psalm 46:1-2, 10). "
3 comments:
thank you for that post. I haven't had any good answers to Sydney's question regarding this subject. This will help me to quote scripture instead of her always hearing...because I said, or that is just the way God made it.
So thanks Tami!!
"Be still and know that I am God."
So powerful! Thanks for posting that.
I know--I wanted to save this info because I have struggled to come up with one good answer for my children to this question at times--and here he has five!
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