Tragedy

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

If you have taken a journalism class you have become very acquainted with these terms. They are the 6 things you ask to write a story. They are needed to complete the story. As Humans we like to know the facts or the things that we know for sure and in a tragedy we usually know the who, what, when and where, but many times we don't know how and we really don't know why. That's is where we question God.

Many times you hear, "God is Love.", and you think to yourself why would someone that loves someone let them be hurt. In short, it comes from the sin that was let in the world by Adam and Eve. Simply that is why bad things happen is this world because this world is imperfect. All in all all the tragedy is part of God's plan, and he uses the bad things to help Christians grow and their churches grow.

Not long ago my church had a terrible accident that struck a very nice family in the church. They lost a young man and a child was injured very badly. All this happened and we at the church pulled together to help this family cope with the loss of the man and the recovery of the child. It was hard at first because many folks don't want to be bothered with right after a tragedy but that is what the church is about. Helping the sick and the hurting and believe me losing a loved one unexpectedly hurts like no other hurt you can have.

Some of you may ask, "Well, why does God hurt us when it says in the Bible that he has plans prosper us and not to harm us?"

That verse is Jeremiah 29:11.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

That verse, in my mind, is directed at Christians. Once a Christian is saved they will spend eternal life in Heaven and no longer will spend a eternity in hell. That's why this verse says that God has plans that will prosper you. Of course he does, I mean what about Heaven is there that will harm you? Nothing. Heaven is the perfect place and there will be a hope and future. Once you have accepted Jesus into your heart then you will be promised hope and future.

To wrap up, when a family goes through a tragedy be ready to step in do the following things.

1) Pray
2) Meet their needs
3) Support the Pastor
4) Read the Bible for inspiration
5) Pray

Thank You and God Bless

Tony