“They wanted to know why I did what I did. Well, sir, I guess there’s just a meanness in this world.” – Bruce Springsteen (from Nebraska)
Several days later and we are still searching for answers to explain what happened at Sandy Hook elementary school. It’s unimaginable to think the events of last Friday could actually transpire. But they did. And 26 innocent souls are dead as a result. As is often the case when we hear of such tragedy happening, it can be difficult to accept the fact that our God would allow something so horrific to take place. It seems especially incomprehensible to try to rationalize how He could allow this to happen to children.
Across the world, billions are preparing themselves for Christmas, a time universally recognized as the arrival of Jesus on earth – the reminder that God loves us so much He sent his only son to redeem us. The harsh reality that so many children could be slaughtered during such a spiritual and magnificent time is definitely a reason to pause and reflect and ask,”Why could such a loving God allow such evil?”
Undoubtedly, all of us at some point in our lives have asked/will ask this very question. And it doesn’t apply to just evil. It applies to any type of pain and suffering that our human brains are unable to explain away with any type of logic that makes sense. As tragic and horrific as last week’s events were, I would challenge anyone to claim that the parents of those schoolchildren suffered more than the parents whose four-year-old son is diagnosed with an interoperable brain tumor, or whose six-year-old daughter dies in a car crash brought on by a drunk driver. It is not fair to compare our sufferings to the sufferings of others, nor should we even entertain such a notion. It is all relative, and it is all painful.
So the question still remains. “Why could such a loving God allow such suffering?” I certainly don’t have the answer, nor have I come across anyone who does have a definitive answer. However, I choose to have faith and believe that God knows what He’s doing. And while I still may question why God allows the innocent to experience such suffering, I still choose to believe in His plan even though I don’t always understand it. The last time I checked a complete comprehension of something was not a prerequisite for believing in that same thing. Kind of like gravity. That’s faith.
It’s like I often tell people who ask me how I can manage to keep such strong faith after my accident. My response is simple… “How can I not?” Faith won’t make the pain and suffering disappear, and it might not give us the answers we seek. And unfortunately, faith will not bring those children back, at least not in this world. But for me, faith brings with it the promise of something better, some type of reward extraordinarily unfathomable. And with all the hardship and heartache in this world, why would I not want to believe in something far greater than anything I have yet to experience? Faith doesn’t cost anything, but I choose to believe it will give me everything.
My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the families of Newtown, CT. I hope that they will eventually find strength and peace through all the prayers being offered for them.
Stand Strong.
Scott
Scott, I think your comments on what Faith truly means for you and how it’s helped you with your journey through life is so meaningful.
I don’t believe any of us will ever understand why bad things seem to happen to good people. I remember hearing someone say that from the moment we’re born we are one step closer to death.
But, I don’t believe that everyone who is born into this world is equipped to deal with what living on earth brings. As a parent myself, my heart aches for those families and every family who each and every day deals with these seemingly uncontrollable life events.
Maybe, God speaks through the people who have had hardships in their lives, because who better for us to listen and gain hope. When I read your comments above, it reminded me of what having Faith, truly means…..I think at times we all forget that.
Thank you Scott. You have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.
God bless you.
Beautiful words, Scott. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
well, psalm 51:5 david writes we are “all born in sin from our mothers womb”. we don’t need to teach our children to be bad (sinfull), but we need to teach them to be good. it’s been revealed that the young man (killer) was known to have mental problems and it was not addressed. we need all to pay better attention to our children’s mouth and actions. this stuff isn’t new, i read the Bible and these things were happening all along. below is a studly from the Bible i did some time back, it may help answer some questions.
According to the Bible, “the heart is wicked and deceitful above all things” (jeremiah 17:9). and “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (romans 3:23). God did not leave us here to suffer pointlessly. Our loving and merciful God has a perfect plan to use that suffering to accomplish His threefold purpose. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation”(john 16:33). Trials and distress are not something unusual in life; they are part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. In Christ we have an anchor that holds fast in all the storms of life, but if we never sail into those storms, how would we know that? It is in times of despair and sorrow that we reach out to Him, and, if we are His children, we always find Him there waiting to comfort and uphold us through it all. In this way, He proves His faithfulness to us and ensures that we will stay close to Him. An added benefit is that as we experience God’s comfort through trials, we are then able to comfort others in the same way (2corinthians 1:4) Second, He proves to us that our faith is real through the suffering and pain that are inevitable in this life. How we respond to suffering is determined by the genuineness of our faith. Those with faith truly from God, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), will not be crushed by suffering, but will come through the trial with their faith intact, having been “proven through fire” so that it “might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). Those are the ones who do not shake their fists at God or question His goodness, but instead “count it all joy” (James 1:2), knowing that trials prove that they are truly the children of God. “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).
Finally, God uses suffering to take our eyes off this world and put them on the next. The Bible continually exhorts us to not get caught up in the things of this world, but to look forward to the world to come. This world and all that is in it will pass away, but the kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and those who would follow Him must not see the things of this life, both good and bad, as the end of the story. Even the sufferings we endure and which seem so terrible “are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
Could God prevent all suffering? Of course. But He assures us that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). So even suffering is part of the “all things” that God is using to accomplish His good purposes. His plan is perfect, His character is flawless, and those who trust Him will not be disappointed.
God Bless You All::: and Please Continue to Pray for those Affected, for All the parents and children around the World. To help us train up our kids that they don’t come into such a thing.
Beautiful words…at a time when it is hard to find the right words. Thank you for reminding us about the importance and meaning of faith.
Encouraging words, Scott!..Let’s remember, Jesus was born…to die. In other words, God sent His Son (Xmas!) knowing full well that Satan was going to put events into motion that would lead to His Son’s murder & sacrifice (Easter!) that lay before him 33yrs later…knowing full well that Satan would play into His plan of redemption (Price Paid!), as you said, for us all…and God the Father, knowing all this, was always loving, faithful, sovereign, good, omnipotent & omniscient through it all…in the midst of a horrific tradgedy (The Cruxcifiction!), God the Father paid the greatest price and bought the greatest good Man has ever known (New Resurrected Eternal Life!)…I pray God the Father brings the greatest good He can for all through the tragedy of Newtown, Conneticut…He seems to be very familiar, on a Personal level, with it….may these events bring a new meaning and gratitude to us all this Holiday Season…Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings to you, Scott, and your readers…
Hi Scott, I am Betsy’s oldest sister. This is an amazing article and I will read it again and again. Hugs to you and looking forward to seeing you on Christmas day!
What a touching tribute! God Bless You, Scott. You never fail to inspire us, and you are so right – people have been questioning “Why God would let this happen?”
Faith – what a marvelous gift! I, like you, believe it will give me everything.
Our prayers and thoughts are with all of those who suffer losses, injuries, or any kind of hardship.
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and a Holy, Happy, Healthy New Year.
God Bless You – Mary
For a guy who has been through so much yourself, you always have a way to put it in such great perspective Scott. God Bless this Christmas, and may God hold all 26 of those people in the palm of his hand.
After Adam and Eve period, the individual was and still is let to choose by himself the way : good or bad.
I’m trying to belief that, in the after world all those pure souls will be protected from this cruel world we are living in. I’m paying for all of them and for their parents and relatives who will have to live their lives with such a pain in souls.
Such a horrific event that took place…
It NEVER seems fair why some people get taken before others, or why there are such evil people in this world, and why such innocent little ones are taken from us.
No one can explain this event.
This does NOT explain whatsoever what happened last wk, but it does say in the Bible that God allows free will, he allows you to choose sin if you wish. With sin, comes consequence, and evil has entered the world. So in my eyes, God doesn’t necessarily “Let” this happen. Why these innocent little ones were taken, I don’t know.
Amen, 20 new angels to watch over all of us. God bless the families and you.