A Perspective on Tragedy

Tragedy is not supposed to happen at Christmas time – at least we don’t think it should.  Not this; not now!  But in the real world, it happens, all too often.  And it has happened to our school family in ways that we can hardly fathom.  The father of one of our current students was suddenly, unexpectedly, and so very sadly gone from this life just last week.  And this week, one of our former students, a second grader, her mother, and a little 7 year old friend were suddenly, unexpectedly and so very sadly taken from us in an automobile accident.

How do we process all that?  Is it even possible to make any sense of it?  May I suggest that we start with the Bible, and the Bible’s view of who God is.  The story of the Bible is not free from tragedy.  There was the unspeakable tragedy of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.   Who can deny the bitter taste of Cain killing Abel?  And what about all the heartless, cruel, wicked turns that came in the life of young Joseph?  You remember them: hated by his brothers, sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, lied about by Potiphar’s wife, thrown into prison and forgotten there.  What about Job?  He lost everything dear to him.  Everything!

As if to add to the pain of these already gut-wrenching tragedies, those going through them are not told why.  That’s the pressing question, isn’t it?  Why??  Joseph didn’t know until near the end of his story.  Job never knew what went on behind the scenes between God and Satan.  Why?  Because it was not for them to know.  It was enough for them to know that God knew.  God had things to accomplish – He had an agenda – not unlike the agenda He had for his only Son.  The end was good, the goal was noble, even glorious.  But the path to that end was marked by pain and tragedy.  And yet out of that crucible came some utterly remarkable things:  Joseph ends up saving his hateful brothers and ultimately the nation through which Christ would come.  Job comes out more blessed at the end.  And Jesus accomplishes redemption for sinners – his enemies, all of whom were complicit in his tragic crucifixion.

We live in a broken, fallen world where tragedy is all too common, but we are surprised when it comes.  In these moments we must learn to trust that God has his purposes – as perplexing and mysterious as that may be.  We may not know what they are, but we must be content, through our tears and grief, to know that God does.

Our unspeakable grief does not automatically mean that we are taking issue with God.  We grieve deeply because we have loved deeply.  And that is as it should be.  May our grief drive us to the only One who can bring good out of evil, and to the only One who can comfort our broken hearts.