Asking Questions in the Face of a Tragedy

This past weekend, we received the tragic news from Tucson, Arizona that a mentally ill individual shot into a crowd of people killing six people and wounding 14 others, including U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Throughout this week we have seen news reports and media attention surrounding this crisis including the funerals that are now taking place in Arizona. Much of the news media has focused on the serious wounds received by Representative Giffords, and please join me in praying for her, the others wounded, and the families that our mourning the loss of a loved one.

One of the challenges in the wake of a tragedy of this nature is to wrestle with some of the questions that surface in the aftermath. Is there someone to blame in addition to the shooter for this heinous, meaningless crime? Is this the result of our present social-political culture … or is this an isolated case of evil? And one of the consistent questions that emerges in the face of a tragedy (especially when young children are killed): Why didn’t God prevent this horrific event from happening?

I don’t have room in this short devotional to adequately address the questions above, and frankly I struggle with some of these questions as well. And yet one thing I am certain is that the LORD deeply loves everyone involved and He is deeply saddened by the evil that occurred last Saturday. By faith, I am also certain that the LORD will continue to answer prayers and that He will be at work even in this bad situation. The Apostle Paul wrote the follow promise to early believers in Rome who would suffer unjust persecution at the hand of the Roman Empire: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

This Bible Passage does not say that everything that happens is good, nor are acts of evil part of God’s purpose. And yet this promise found in Scripture reminds us that God is always at work even in the face of evil. Please join me in praying that those who are grieving and hurting will turn to the LORD during this difficult time and that they will find strength. Also, let’s pray that God will be at work to accomplish lasting good in the lives of many in the face of this tragedy.