I can’t think of much else right now, but the events that occurred last week that affected so many. With the passing of our dear friend, Bryan, came another tragedy the next night when another friend, Mitch, was also killed in a car accident. Two young men, who were not only husbands, but fathers and friends … how could this be?
During these times, we all question God. Why? Why does this happen?
I keep thinking about that old Billy Joel song, “Only the Good Die Young.” How appropriate!
There are so many thoughts that run through my head when tragedies like this happen.
I can’t handle it when people say, “We all have our time,” or “It was just his time.”
I don’t believe that.
I know that the Bible says that there is an appointed time for every man to die. And I know that our deaths are not a surprise to God.
However, my God is a good God, who wants the best for His children. My God doesn’t want children to grow up fatherless and wives to have to struggle to make a good life for their children without their husbands. My God wants His children to live a long, blessed life.
Do I believe that everything is supposed to be easy and happy in this life? No.
But, if God’s desire for us is good, and He never changes, then He wants us blessed and not suffering.
I believe it is through the fallen world that we live in that these events occur.
Sometimes, we must suffer due to the choices, decisions, and even mistakes of others. And, sometimes, we make our own choices, decisions, and mistakes.
I think about David and how he pleaded with God for his son not to die. God told David through Nathan that the son Bathsheba was carrying would die because of the sins that David had committed and attempted to cover up.
David pleaded. David fasted. David spent nights lying on the ground … waiting on God’s response … praying and hoping for mercy.
On the seventh day, the child died.
There is always a consequence to our actions. Sometimes the consequences affect not only us, but others. Our heart goes out to David, of course, over the loss of his child, and the guilt he must have felt. But, what about Bathsheba, and even more, what about that innocent baby. Consequences affect the innocent too.
An elderly man loses control of a vehicle and an innocent man is dead.
Another man loses control of his own vehicle through unknown circumstances and he is dead.
Both events affect loads of other people.
Here’s the greatest thing that separates David from the rest of us.
Guess what he did after he found out his son died, even knowing it was his own fault? He got up from the ground. He washed, put on lotion (really?), changed his clothes, went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then, after he worshiped, he went home and ate.
His servants were a little stunned by his reaction and asked why he was acting this way. They said, “while the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat.”
2 Samuel 12:22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
He worshiped.
That’s all we can do right now. Just worship. We can’t understand. Just worship.
I also think about the fact that God works everything for our good.
David’s good was that God gave him another son, Solomon, who the Bible said, the Lord loved.
I don’t know what good can come out of this situation, but God’s Word is true, and I trust Him.
And, since you’ve made it through this incredibly long post, I vow to not post on death or dying for the rest of the week.
Hello! 🙂
Just as Jesus did with the disciples, sometimes He sends us out in a boat and into a storm for us to recognize who He truly is and for us to become who He wants us to be. (Matthew 14:12-36)
Where was Jesus when His disciples were in the storm, praying for them. Know that He is interceding on behalf of all of those involved. He’s interceding for you. He’s pouring out His love on each of you, comforting, bringing peace.
Don’t take your eyes off of the Savior. He’s calling you to come.
Blessings – Lisa
It seems the older I get, I am only left with more questions than answers. This is hard… It’s hard to see His hand in moments like this. Praying the Holy Spirit will bring comfort…
I am so sorry for the pain and sadness of this last week. It is always hard for us to understand the “whys” of situations like this. I do take comfort from knowing:
“All the days ordained for me were written in your
book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:16
We can’t always see the “good” that will come from a situation, but through His word and through His example in my life…I know He is trustworthy and I can hold on to that. It’s times like this that our faith is truly tested….do we really believe what we say? Faith is believing in what we can’t understand.
praying for these families with you.
Wow. So many tragedies… It is rough to sort through. I appreciate your insights and your steadfast belief that God IS good. No matter what.
There’s so much that is unknown…and I’m okay with that. My faith is based on the unseen, not the seen. And I’m okay with that. It’s so very very hard at times, but it is unshakable. And you are so right. Through the good and through the bad, we are to worship. To cry out to God. To glorify His name. David was absolutely right in his worship of God. It’s hard, especially when we lose someone close, but this life is a prelude of eternity. It’s difficult to comprehend, but like I mentioned earlier, there is so much that is unknown.
Great post.
With all the stuff going on in our world, I can’t imagine going a single day without the peace that comes from God.
This world would be unbearable.
What a opportunity we have to share the love of Jesus during this time of uncertainty.
Blessings
I’m sorry for the week you’ve had.
As I read the paper or watch the news I too ask why?
It can be very difficult to process and even maddening to except that sin causes such heart-breaking situations.
My prays go out to you and these families.
I don’t have any extra words of encouragement – I know I won’t have anything to say to make you feel better. But I WILL pray for you and the families of the men who were killed. I’m sorry you are hurting right now.
It is always hard for me to think of all the “whys”.
I’ll be praying for your family and theirs!
Hi, I stumbled across your blog and this post really caught my attention. Thank you for such a well-put and eloquent application of scripture. My parents both have passed from cancer, my mother at age 42 and my dad just recently at age 52. The grieving process was totally different with my dad. It wasn’t because I loved him less, I just had the maturity (in Christ) to see that it was an opportunity to worship and praise Him in the storm. Thank you again, and I hope to stumble by again in the future.
This just broke my heart. . .I’ve been praying for you guys and these families as you’ve written about them. . .sorry I haven’t actually commented to tell you that till now.
Praying that NOW God lays His Peace upon those families and speaks His sweet truths into their hearts.
Brandi