Tragedy

I remember being a teenager and my favorite musician or band was not Pearl Jam, Nirvana, or Will Smith (you know before he went Independence Day and all), but it was Steven Curtis Chapman. I loved and still do love his music. I grew up singing his songs in church and even did a couple dramas in church based on them as well. Recently when his song "Cinderella" came out I thought, "Wow, what a beautiful song," but this week with news that his youngest little girl was killed in a car accident the song seems almost bittersweet. Gary Fowler also lost a daughter a few years back, and when I've seen him talk about it, you can still see just that itch or longing he has for his little girl. I also lost a brother who was just a few minutes old. Life seems to be, at times, a tragedy. Why do these things happen? Why does a loving God allow such a faithful man like Steven Curtis Chapman lose his precious angel? Unfortunately none of us have that answer. When you think of all the people who died in the recent earthquake in China or the suffering that took place in New Orleans a few years ago, or even the starving people in Africa at this very moment sometimes its hard not to turn your head and blame God. Divorce, sickness, death...

However, I can tell you this: in spite of all these tragedies it is not God's fault, but he does grieve with us. While it's probably little consolation to the Chapman family and all the others I've mentioned today we do have one promise from God, among his many others, to cling to: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28 King Jimmy Version

God does use these tragedies for good in the long term if we choose him. He isn't to blame, but he does love us enough to care for us in our hour of need. I can speak from the experiences of the past 7 months to prove that. To those who are hurting: you are in my thoughts and prayers.