In the midst of trouble, we may ask why life has to be so hard. Tragedies happen. Sorrow is a reality. At times, it almost seems too hard to bear. In the midst of great illness, hurtful relational breaks, or the death of loved ones, life takes on a heaviness. There is a sense of, “It’s not supposed to be this way.”
The reason we feel that way is because we were made for a better world. The world God created did not include sickness, death and heartache. But Adam and Eve ignored God’s boundaries. They rebelled against the command God gave not to eat from that tree. When they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the world suffered. We inherited their sin nature. We are all guilty of rebellion against God. Sin brought death. It brought decay. It brought all kinds of evil into the human experience.
Recently, Hurricane Helene ravaged much of Western North Carolina. It brought a stark reminder of an imperfect world. Just an hour from where I live, houses, and in some cases, whole communities have washed away. Roads and bridges have disappeared. Many who have lost their homes have also lost their livelihood because their places of employment were affected. It will take years for the hardest hit areas to fully recover. People here say they have never seen anything like it.
Yet, often in the midst of tragedy and hardship, joy emerges. Here, amidst the stories of devastation, we see stories of hope arise. Stories of faith and resilience. Stories of courage and generosity. People have donated vast amounts of bottled water, food, and clothes. Tour companies have donated helicopters and pilots to distribute materials and help with evacuations. Area churches have produced armies of volunteers to distribute needed supplies, cook meals, clean up, and rebuild. They build cabins, they cut up and remove fallen trees, they do whatever needs doing. They pray with and encourage those who have suffered great loss.
Unbelievers are coming to faith as they see the church being the church. They see God’s provision through His people, and they want to know the God behind their actions.
No one has all the answers about suffering and why evil exists. We do know we live in a fallen world. We can also know suffering–our own, or someone else’s–causes us to look beyond ourselves. When we are weak and helpless we learn about a strength and provision that can only come from God. When we see suffering around us, it causes us to look beyond our own comfort and convenience to seek ways to help.
The God who allowed sin into the world, also has a plan of redemption, through Jesus Christ. The worst evil of all nailed Jesus to the cross. His suffering brought the greatest joy to all people. When Jesus arose He showed Himself triumphant over sin and evil. For all who put their faith in His death and resurrection, suffering and evil are temporary. In His time, Jesus will return to earth and put an end to evil, once and for all. In the meantime, His Spirit is alive and working through His people now.
In the midst of suffering, it is often hard to see the good that can come out of it. But even in the midst, we see faith-building hope and joy. Against all the darkness in the world, God’s mercy and grace shine.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5 NLT
How have you seen God’s light shine into dark situations? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
Copyright 2024 Phyllis L. Farringer
Image by Mario Berger from Pixabay
Thank you for your thoughts, Phyllis. I’m praying for everyone impacted by the hurricane.
Yes, please continue to pray. Thank you, Joni.