What Now, God?

Everything Doesn’t Happen for a Reason

Everything happens for a reason. It’s the phrase we use for the lowercase “t” tragedies in life that comforts us with the idea that we don’t know everything, and God is in control. What about the big “T” tragedies? We dare not say that to the mother who lost her 3-year-old to cancer, or the 22-year-old widow of a young soldier killed in battle. So, does this phrase hold up, or not?

You can find everywhere stories about people who have endured unspeakable losses and then went on to help others in spectacular and far-reaching ways. Others have never recovered, spending the remainder of their days in isolation and despair, rejecting any notion of purpose in their loss. Was there a reason for their pain and they were simply too stubborn to harness their punishment and turn it to glory? Is that required? Are they then also now sinners for not having found the resolve to rise to the calling that tragedy clearly placed in their lives?

I could argue that both responses to tragedy could be summed up by the bargaining stage of grief- those conditions we place on God in attempt to get relief from pain.

In those times where people have repurposed their pain to help others, they eventually looked around and saw that a group rose up from the ashes, and people shared loss and resources, love and empathy, transparency and sustenance with each other. It seems as though there was now a reason they could point to for their pain; this authentic community. At last, meaning, and purpose to rise every morning.

Our lives are imbued with meaning and purpose at birth, and Jesus endured the cross so that we may have a path to authentic community without the necessity of a three-year-old dying of cancer to unite us.

We live in a fallen world filled with loss and suffering, all of it meaningless. Jesus loves you and upholds the purpose for your life no matter your reaction to pain, because He is a zealous believer in meaning of your life. He is ever ready to believe the best of you, and fully committed to the idea you and He will ascend together in victory over life’s circumstances.

Grab hold of the Kingdom of Heaven, and bring it down to earth by allowing God to tap into your resources, empathy, and love regardless of the situation you are in. He is a good and faithful steward of the seeds you sow in pain and in plenty, and He will tend the garden of community you create.

Reflection

Are there losses you cannot make sense of? What are they?
Are you convinced your life has meaning and purpose?
How might those around you benefit from the talents and resources you have?

Goals

Think of three things you have now that you could use to build up your community:

“All the believers were one in mind and heart. Selfishness was not a part of their community, for they shared everything they had with one another. The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all. (Acts 4:32-33 TPT)