Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings; the one who is greedy curses and despises the Lord. Psalm 10:1-3
Surrendering to God in Trials and Tragedy
How should we respond to a fallen world and how should we approach God in the midst of it?
There are many things in the world today that create worry and anxiety – the news, world events, evil in the world… And then there are the difficult, painful, and tragic circumstances we sometimes have to endure in our personal lives. We can find ourselves wondering where God is and how could he possible let these things happen. We can even tell ourselves that we have done something that caused the circumstances or that God does not care about us anymore. Our human minds have trouble reconciling a loving, caring, life-giving God with circumstances that he had the power to control or keep from happening. We know that He is powerful enough to stop any tragedy or illness or suffering of any kind. We know that He can keep anything bad from ever happening to us or anyone we love. So why doesn’t he and how do we handle this? Where is God in the midst of tragedy? Senselessness? Injustice?
How should we approach God in the midst of this broken world? Honestly. We should approach God honestly with our questions, grief, frustrations, and complaints. When we bring this all to him and surrender, it turns to lament. A Lament is “A cry of distress in which the psalmist expresses the suffering and disappointment of life in a fallen world. Complaint turns to lament with us when we leave it with him. Surrender is the only way. Like we heard last week – If we know God, we will trust God. If we trust God, we will seek God. We will surrender to a God we know, trust, and seek.
God cannot contradict himself. If we believe that he is who he says he is, then we will believe he will fulfill his promises. We will believe that he will do what he says he will do because he cannot contradict himself. He cannot lie. So we can surrender to a God we can trust to keep his promises. What promises? Some of God’s promises are:
Promise of peace: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, “I am going away and coming back to you.” If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, “I am going to the Father,” for My Father is greater than I. (John 14:27–28)
Promise of love, forgiveness, and eternal life: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16–17)
Promise of help carrying burdens: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)
Promise of giving us what is best for us: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
He will keep his promises. He promises that he will work all things together for good – he has good plans – the best plans. He will let us make our own plans and do what we want instead of what following his will for our lives. If we want his best plans for our lives, we have to surrender our own plans. Even in the middle of pain and heartbreak that we don’t understand we know we can trust his plans for us. When we can surrender to him, we can rest in him and find peace in him, no matter what our circumstances are.
We don't know why God sometimes heals and other times he doesn't, why he allows injustice and cruelty and people get away with it. Where is he in the midst of the difficult times? He is with us. He never leaves our side. He goes through everything with us.
Can you think back to a time when you saw his hand in your life? Remembering God's faithfulness in the past can help us get through hard times. Lean into the God you know and can trust. Find peace in his presence and rest in him.
