When Tragedy StrikesShembull

Remember God’s in Control

We’ve noted that our response to tragedy must be with compassion and concern, and we must exercise our faith, courage, and confidence in God, who’s promised to never leave us or forsake us. There’s also a third response. 

It’s natural for those faced with sudden calamity to ask, “God why did you allow this to happen?” This question shouldn’t be ignored but instead faced head on. For those of us who know God as our heavenly Father, we’re not afraid to ask Him hard questions. We know that the clear promises found in His Word and seeking to understand why He permits tragedy is an appropriate response.

There are those, however, who believe we should never ask questions of God. This isn’t biblical. Courageous King David often commented on his inability to understand the ways of God and, at times, was forthright in his probing questions of the Father. We can learn the ways of God by seeking to find His answers to the difficult problems and heartaches we experience. We must never leave God out of the equation. 

Did God know about the difficulty, calamity, or tragedy before it happened to you? Yes, because He’s omniscient and all-knowing (Ps. 139). Did God initiate this calamity or tragedy? No—but He did permit it to happen. If He knew about these things, then why did He allow them to happen? Think carefully about these questions. Scripture teaches us that God’s throne is established in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all (see Ps. 103:19). Clearly, we’re told that God is in charge, He’s in control. Period. Nothing happens apart from His knowledge, understanding, and power.

But let’s imagine for a moment that God’s not in control. If He’s not, then who is? If the difficulty or tragedy that occurred in your life couldn’t have been stopped by God, then somewhere out there exists something more powerful than God. And that’s simply not the case! Those of us who’re believers are convinced by experience and faith that there’s no power in this universe equal to our God—and we believe He’s in absolute and total control.

Some, however, will still question, “Why did God allow this to happen?” With all the earnestness in my heart, I respond to you by saying: Ask Him. Prayerfully engage Him with your questions and concerns. He’s committed to respond to the open and truthful heart. He’s not afraid of your questions. And He gives honest answers. As you earnestly seek Him, I guarantee He’ll begin to give you the answers to your questions and, at the same time, start to change and transform your life. You may even find yourself asking Him: “What do you want to teach me through this series of events, Lord?” In my experience, God works good out of even the most difficult of circumstances and promises to give comfort and strength to the most sorrowful heart.