Tragedy

One of the difficult things to understand about God is why he lets terrible things happen to people. We see it around us and in the news; What appear to us to be senseless tragedies.

We can read in Romans 9:17, “For the scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the world.” So God made Pharaoh to be the oppressor of the Jews in order to show his power.

Another story in John 9:1-3, Jesus came across a man who had been blind since birth, He was asked, who sinned the man or his parents, Jesus said, “neither, he was born blind so that God’s power could be demonstrated.” then Jesus healed him.

We cannot know why God allows the tragedies we see to happen, and most importantly, we are in no position to evaluate God based on them. God doesn’t measure whether things are good or bad based upon, our measures, or how they affect our lives here on earth. Paul writes in Romans 9:20, “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Whether we experience good or bad, or see joy or tragedy, does not change how we should approach God. Our responsibility is to believe in his power, trust his love, and submit ourselves to him. What is most important is that we know we have already been saved, eternally.

Dear Lord, your ways are higher than we can understand. Help us trust that all things are working according to your plan, and nothing can separate us from your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.