In the days since the devastating tornado tore through Joplin, Missourri, the news has gone from bad to worse. “Tragedy” just doesn’t do justice to what happenned. Seeing neighborhoods flattened and listening to people who lost their loved ones in an instant is heart-breaking to say the least.
I’ve heard people ask, “Where was God in all this?”
I’ve head some answer, “God is in the people coming together to help out.”
Hmmm. So, God is in the aftermath?
I do believe that God works through people. I can see God’s love shining through when “complete strangers” pitch in to help others–sorting through the rubble, donating goods, volunteering for rebuilding projects, and giving financial support to relief agencies are different ways to “love thy neighbor” in a time of crisis. It is heart-warming to see how many people will be so generous to help others in need–even those who have very little themselves give very much. Some people would say that these acts of kindness stem from good human nature, not God, but I’m not sure that the two are separable. So, yes, I agree that God is present in the love and caring that we show each other after a tragedy.
But where was God before and during the storm?
People who experienced a near miss may credit God for saving them. I would give thanks to God too, if my life were spared. But where does that leave the people whose homes were destroyed or whose loved ones were killed? Do they get to blame God?
I have said that my faith is not shaken by my own personal tragedies, because I know that people suffer every day, and their sufferring doesn’t weaken my faith. My faith would be selfish if I only doubted God if something bad happenned to me. But my faith has not been tested by the loss or devesation that some have endured. Maybe I would feel differently if my neighborhood was flattened or my family was torn apart.
I know these are timeless questions that have been asked throughout the ages. Some people say that all tragedy stems from “original sin.” Even if the victims are innocent, man’s sinful nature brought it on somehow. Others say that “the problem of pain” simply cannot be answered to human comprehension–only God can know and understand.
Personally, I can’t reconcile my belief in a loving, omniscient and omnipotent God with the tragedies that happen every day. When I try, I usually decide that I’d rather have God not be all-powerful (He couldn’t stop it) or all-knowing (He didn’t see it coming) than have God fall short on the love side of the equation (He doesn’t mind the anguish). Or, maybe the pain we see serves a higher purpose that we can’t (like a painful but necessary surgery a parent might put a child through–I’m pretty sure Rev. Rees drew that analogy in a sermon a while ago). But no “solution” I can come up with is really satisfactory. What I do know is that I don’t want a God that only shows up for the aftermath.
Have you figured out “why bad things happen to good people”?
Do tragedies shake your faith in God?
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What an amazing and powerful post.
As a Jew Ive struggled with the notion of WHERE WAS G-D when it came to the holocaust and have to admit Id never though about the G-d is in the aftermath notion before.
I hear what you are saying and "get" why you dont "like" that answer and yet, at least for today, I find the concept comforting.
Really well said. I do find that when we question our beliefs we learn a lot about ourselves. It takes strength to do that.
I'm passing out awards on my blog today and gave one to you. Come by and check it out.
Wow…as you know I am not a religious person and I tend not to either "thank" God or "blame" God, but I also never thought of it in these terms before either.
As for bad things happening to good people, I just don't know. There are some who believe that people "attract" bad things. There are some who believe that if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, well then…that's a risk. There are some who believe it just is what it is. At the same time, do you ever wonder why good things happen to "bad" people?
Ummh… very interesting post… really made me think…
Why bad things happen to good people? Because that's life… I'm too scared to read the news from my hometown in Mexico these days because nothing makes sense anymore. Bad things happen to good people… to children… and there is nothing that makes sense about it.
But I think you're right. The God of "before and during" the storm is the same God that can be found in the Old Testament, who at times seems a bit capricious, asking people to show their love by murdering their children (even if at the last minute things would change) or getting so upset that people would do x or y that he would get rid of an entire city.
I am touched by the "aftermath love" that moves people to do great things… I just wish we didn't have to wait for tragedies to show that love to our human beings…
Great post … grateful that Karen shared it with me on Facebook.
I've asked these type of questions since I was a kid in a strict traditional Mennonite home. I left those boxes and spent time (too much) in a conservative evangelical church. Then after almost losing a leg and almost dying in an accident 7 years ago, the questions intensified … both concerning my trauma and all the pain in the world.
I must have googled "why bad things happen" a hundred times, wishing some wonderful answer would show up. I read books, studied, talked and prayed about it … still no real satisfactory answers.
My faith has evolved to a place of acknowledging God, seeing him as the source of love, but not pinning him down to who I think he is or what I think he does or doesn’t do. If God is everything and is everywhere … it’s audacious to think he would be contained in doctrine, traditions, knowledge or concepts that I can comprehend. I know there is so much I don’t know, but I’m fairly convinced that living fully alive and spreading love everywhere is the best way to live life.
So I've come to a place of having a somewhat-settled peace about living with the mysteries of life … knowing I will never have answers to many of my questions. From time to time, tragedies, especially ones where many are killed, sent me into a questioning mode again.
As usual, I am awed by your comments. More to ponder . . . .
I don't have the answer but I trust that He will reveal these answers to me when I meet Him face to face. I haven't suffered this type of adversity, but the things I HAVE suffered through have made me stronger and deepened my relationship with God. In my faith, I accept those things I do not understand. "Lean not on your own understanding" is what He says to do.
Hmm. Now you have me thinking about the concept of "resting in uncertainty" that I encountered in my discernment training . . . .
I have faith in God because right now I certainly don't have any faith in the health care system.
Still the hardest question out there, for me anyway, and not one I can answer. I'm with you — I'd rather lose God as all-powerful than lose God as all-loving. I don't know why terrible things happen. I don't think of God as being involved in the causing of them (though can't explain well even for myself why God isn't involved there – a result of giving humanity free will? divine self-limiting?). But I find comfort and an ability to rest in the uncertainty (as someone wrote above) knowing/trusting that God is suffering right along with the suffering. I've been certain of it in my own darkest nights (though sometimes in retrospect), and it is my deepest prayer for others when they are in theirs.
Thank you for the conversation starter.
I agree with yum yucky's quote ("lean not on your understanding") because I've gotten to the point where I've accepted that I can't understand everything.
But I can have a relationship with my loving God
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