When you're faced with "why?"

I hate to watch the evening news.  If I didn’t want to see the local weather forecast, I would probably never turn it on.  Why, you might ask?  Because of all the bad news.  Every time I turn on the tv, it seems like there is a report about someone being hurt or killed.  There is news of economic upheaval that is leaving people poor and hungry and homeless.  There is news of war and natural disaster.  None of it is good.  It leaves me feeling mad, sad, and helpless.   And, if I’m not careful, it leaves me asking, “Why?”

The shooting that just took place in Colorado is a prime example.  Why would someone do that?  Why would they shoot innocent people who were just trying to enjoy a fun evening out at the movies? 

Or, what about this:  The news last week included a story about a college sophomore who was killed in a climbing accident at Hanging Rock State Park.  I work with this young man’s father (call him J).  I know how fiercely J loved his son.  I happened to be talking with him a few months ago at the moment that he received a text saying that his son had gotten a scholarship to UNC, and I saw the pride beaming on his face.  To say that J is devastated doesn’t even begin to describe it.  This video gives you a glimpse of the vibrant life that was ended much too soon.  My heart is breaking for J and his family.

Again, I’m tempted to ask why.  Why did someone so young and with so much potential have to die a tragic death?  Why did it happen?  How are we supposed to respond in the face of so much pain and heartache?

And, then comes the really tough question:  Does all of this change my belief in a good and loving and sovereign God?  And, just as quickly, the answer comes:  No!  It can’t.  I have experienced the goodness of the Lord, and I believe the scriptures that tell me that He never changes.  But, I also know that there are forces of evil at work in our world. 

And, I firmly believe that there are some things that we just can’t understand this side of heaven.  They are the mysteries of life, if you will, that are beyond our human ability to comprehend.  Trying to understand them with our finite minds will only serve to frustrate us and will breed more confusion instead of bringing the clarity that we desire.  Sometimes, it’s better to just accept the fact that we’ll never really know the reason – to make the decision to trust and move on rather than to obsess over finding the answer.  My worship pastor stated it so eloquently in his blog when he said, “The mystery might protect us.”

So, in the absence of an explanation – without a definitive answer to the question “why do bad things happen to good people” – how do we respond when tragedy strikes?  What do we say?  What do we do?

As I’ve pondered those questions over the past several days, I believe that I found an answer:  “Rejoice with those who rejoice; and mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)  This is what Jesus did.  When He learned that His friend Lazarus had died, Jesus wept (John 11).  He shared in the grief that Mary and Martha were experiencing.

It is not our responsibility to provide an answer or even to offer advice.  Instead, we are to love as Jesus loved.  We are to come alongside and share in the grief – to weep and to hug and to laugh and to remember – to share in the suffering.  And, we are also to offer hope – hope in the One who holds all of our tomorrows – hope in the One who will carry us through the dark times and bring us out stronger on the other side.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinithians 1:3-4