Where Is God When Tragedy Strikes?

In times of deep sorrow and devastating loss, we may wonder where God is. Discover how His love and presence remain—even in tragedy.

The Question on Everyone’s Heart

Whenever there is a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or some other unexpected tragedy people question where God was when these things took place. With this type of pain and tragedy, many people ask the question, “Why did God allow this?”

Certainly there are no words to describe the anguish that people suffer in these tragedies, and answers to important questions like the one above seem difficult to find.

We can all look to current societal events and blame it on gun control, or the lack of gun control, but that still does not answer the larger, underlying question of why God allowed the tragedy to happen in the first place.

The Limits of Human Understanding

Sadly, we do not have an answer since we do not know God’s mind, or see things through His eyes. We’re told in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that all we know is “partial and incomplete,” with the promise that, as believers, we will one day know everything completely.

Sin and Its Consequences

We know that nature was corrupted because of sin, and as such, nature longs for some form of redemption. In fact, Romans 8:22 says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

What this tells us is clear: God did not create evil and suffering. Sure, He did create the possibility for sin to enter the world, but it was humans, and our free will, which brought it to its full realization.

As believers, we must always remember that God allows things to happen for His reasons, even if we may not understand them at the time. If we believe that above all God is good, just, loving, and merciful, to doubt Him in a time of tragedy is to demonstrate a lack of trust in Him.

God is merciful and loving. And even when He allows tragedy to enter our lives or the lives of those we care about and love, we should always find comfort in knowing that God is also grieving in our pain.

God Is With You

When the very worst things happen in your life, find comfort in knowing that Christ is with you.

Just as Romans 15:13 tells us, the God of hope will fill us with His joy and peace as we trust Him, so that we may overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

…

Need prayer or encouragement? Reach out. We’re here for you.