Peace in the face of tragedy
Death, dying, suffering... these subjects have especially been on my mind the last few days. The young daughter of some dear friends of ours from church is currently undergoing a desperate fight against the neuroblastoma that is ravaging her fragile body. A dear friend of mine's mother just found out her breast cancer has returned. Another woman I know of was diagnosed with a brain tumor last week. Then I read Zeke's story over the weekend.All this was heavy on my heart and then Monday came along, which as you all know, was the tragic shooting at VA Tech. One of the students killed in the massacre was 20-year-old Lauren McCain - a local Christian, homeschool graduate attending a German class at VA Tech on that horrific Monday morning. Only four people made it out of that German class alive.
One thing my husband and I did find interesting was that, in times like these, there is much talk of spiritual things. Such subjects are usually taboo in the modern media. However, when a crisis occurs, talking of God, candlelight prayer vigils, or saying "Our prayers are with the families" and so forth all of a sudden become politically correct.
God is not only a God for times of crisis. He is a God to be looked to everyday of our lives. We never know what tomorrow holds. We never know what even today or this hour holds. The only thing we can know for sure in this life is Who holds the future - God Almighty. In repenting of our sins and placing our full faith and trust in Him, we find not only Everlasting Life, but we find comfort in the midst of difficulty, peace in the face of tragedy, and hope instead of fear.
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Psalm 18:1-6For more encouragement, visit GirlTalk for some excellent links and audios.
Graphic from Art.com
posted by Crystal Paine at 7:45 AM
8 Comments:
Hi Crystal,
My husband and I were just discussing this last night! It always amazes us that the same people that want nothing to do with God under normal circumstances, flock to Him in tragedy and then move on once the crisis is over. My husband calls this "fire insurance"
I think is grand if one comes to Him in a time of tragedy and then STAYS with God.
Take Care,
Trixie
I've been shocked by this tragedy as well. All day long, I kept asking myself: why? Why did this have to happen? So senseless and cruel!
Indeed, our strength is in God and we should turn to Him in times of trouble and times of peace alike.
Crystal,
Excellent post...thanks so much! Certainly many of these thoughts have been whirling around this mind of mine. What a blessing to be able to trust in a sovereign God!
Blacksburg is within an hour of the church I'll attend once I'm married (my beau and his family attend there). Pastor Ware says there is a strong, doctrinally sound PCA-affiliated campus ministry there. For that, I am thankful. I haven't heard whether any of the students who were part of that group were killed. Hopefully the group will be a godly influence on the student body during this time.
~Mary Jo
Crystal,
I couldn't help but perk up when I read about the little girl with neuroblastoma, as that is what our little Heidi was diagnosed with at 3 months old. How is this little girl? The family? I would like to send a card of encouragement to them-is there any way this would be possible?
Phallin
Marie: Email me and I'll get you in touch with them. I know they would really appreciate hearing from you and about your daughter. Their daughter is nine.
"God is not only a God for times of crisis. He is a God to be looked to everyday of our lives."
Crystal, this is so true.
“When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord’s choicest wines.”
-Samuel Rutherford
Too sad, Lauren was a member of one of our homeschool groups here in Hampton, Va. I can't imagine the pain her family is going through right now.
Notes of sympathy are being sent to her church(and homeschool co-op):
To the family of Lauren McCain
c/o Restoration Church, Phoebus Baptist
508 Foxhill Road
Hampton, Va 23669
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