Question: “Is there meaning in tragedy?
Answer: When tragedy strikes, it
is common for people to ask, “What does this mean?” When we witness some
disaster or mass murder, there is a natural feeling that what has
happened should not have happened. This innate sense of “wrongness”
is a clue to meaning in these events. When we look to find meaning in
tragedy, we must have the right perspective. We need to approach the
question in a way that allows for a coherent answer, and this is only
possible through a Christian worldview.
Because God instills meaning into every moment and event in history,
through Him we can begin to find meaning in suffering. The nature
of this world lends itself to tragic events. Fortunately, God speaks to
us, so that we can find not only meaning, but salvation and relief from
the sufferings of the world.
When studying physical motion,
it is crucial to understand perspective. Speed and acceleration are only
meaningful in relation to some other object; this object is the
reference point. The way in which the reference point moves affects our
perception. The same is true in our sense of right and wrong.
For concepts of good, bad, right, wrong, or tragedy to be meaningful,
they have to be anchored to a reference point that does not change or
move. The only valid reference point for these issues is God. The
very fact that we consider a mass murder wrong strongly supports the
idea of God as the reference point for our sense of good and evil. Without
God, even the events we consider the most tragic are no more meaningful
than anything else. We have to understand the nature of this world and
our relationship to God in order to draw any meaning at all from the
things we see.
God infuses every moment and
every event with meaning and gives us confidence that He understands
what we are going through. When Jesus instituted communion, He tied the
past, present, and future together. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “For as
often as you eat this bread and drink the cup (the present), you
proclaim the Lord’s death (the past) until He comes (the future).” God’s
knowledge of all events means nothing is insignificant to Him. If God
knows when a sparrow falls, He certainly knows when we face tragedy
(Matthew 10:29-31). In fact, God assured us that we would face trouble
in this world (John 16:33) and that He has experienced our struggles
personally (Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:15).
While we understand that God has sovereign control over all things, it
is important to remember that God is not the source of tragedy. The
vast majority of human suffering is caused by sin, all too often the
sin of other people. For instance, a mass murder is the fault of the
murderer disobeying the moral law of God (Exodus 20:13; Romans 1:18-21).
When we look to find meaning in such an event, we have to understand
why this world is the way it is. The hardship of this world was
originally caused by mankind’s sin (Romans 5:12), which is always a matter of choice (1 Corinthians 10:13).
While God is perfectly capable of stopping tragedies before they begin,
sometimes He chooses not to. While we may not know why, we do know that He is perfect, just, and holy, and so is His will.
Also, the suffering we experience in this world does three things. It
leads us to seek God, it develops our spiritual strength, and it increases our desire for heaven (Romans 8:18-25; James 1:2-3; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:7).
In the garden of Eden, God
spoke to Adam and communicated in clear and direct ways, not in abstract
concepts. God speaks to us today in the same way. In some ways, this is the most important meaning to be found in any tragedy. Tragic events demonstrate much of their meaning in the way we react to them. C.S. Lewis said,
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but
shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” This does not mean that God causes tragedy, but
that He uses our reaction to tragedy to speak to us. Tragic events
remind us not only that we live in an imperfect and fallen world, but
that there is a God who loves us and wants something better for us than
the world has to offer.
Recommended Resource: Is God Really in Control? Trusting God in a World of Terrorism, Tsunamis, and Personal Tragedy by Jerry Bridges.
NAV Press / 2006 / Paperback
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There’s no more crucial topic in today’s world than understanding what God is up to in the midst of personal and global tragedy. Author Jerry Bridges helps readers answer the question “Is God in control?”, offering comfort and hope by exploring the greater purposes of God in light of Scripture.
Publisher’s Description
From devastating natural
disasters to deadly highway accidents, tragedies occur every day around
the world and in our own lives. As we face death, grief, loss, we become
angry and our faith is tested as we ask, “Is God really in control?”
Navigator author Jerry Bridges
helps answer that question positively in this topical Bible study,
offering comfort and hope by exploring the greater purposes and
character of God.
• Includes discussion questions
• Can be used by men, women, and teens
Author Bio
Dr. Jerry Bridges is the best-selling author of such books as The Pursuit of Holiness, The Practice of Godliness, and Transforming Grace. Jerry is on staff with The Navigators’ collegiate ministry. A popular speaker known around the world, Jerry lives with his wife, Jane, in Colorado Springs, CO.
ChristianBookPreviews.com
Where is God when life is
falling apart? From Job on, people have asked this question when their
souls have been in anguish. Jerry Bridges supplies answers in Bridges
writes for “the average person who has not necessarily experienced major
catastrophe but who does frequently encounter the typical adversities
and heartaches of life”. (p. 11)
Using Scripture and quoting
other writers, many of them Puritan writers, Bridges grapples with the
problem of understanding how a good God who is sovereign can allow, and
sometimes initiate, suffering through humans, nature, and accidents.
“(I)t often seems more
difficult to trust God than to obey Him….The circumstances in which we
must trust God often appear irrational and unreasonable….Obeying God is
worked out within well-defined boundaries of God’s revealed will. But
trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries.” (p.21)
Bridges confronts questions
about God’s goodness, His sovereignty, His wisdom, and our
responsibility. Then he goes beyond the questions to apply Scripture to
our times of hurt and confusion, helping us to accept our hardships and
to grow spiritually.
His approach is very readable.
He leans toward Calvinism in his acceptance of all things arising from
the hand of God, and, though he does not excuse sin in human beings who
bring us grief and pain, he suggests ways of dealing with our
resentment, hurt, and anger against them. He promotes both recognizing
God’s sovereignty and our responsibility with a good discussion of
prudence. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, making it easier
to use in a group setting, as well as in private study.
Jerry Bridges, a Bible teacher
for the Navigators, has written several books, including the highly
acclaimed The Pursuit of Holiness. Whether one fully agrees with him
theologically, he addresses a thorny question thoughtfully, yet
approachably. He offers much help in this short book. — Debbie W.
Wilson, Christian Book Previews.com
This bood not only teaches me to Trust God but it also backes up everything with GOD’S WORD.
Excellent commentary on the sovereignty of God.
For those who have doubts about the sovereignty of God, this is a must read. This book is an easy read yet very profound.
Christian Book Previews.com
- Top 50 Contributor
Where is God when life is falling apart? From Job on, people have asked this question when their souls have been in anguish. Jerry Bridges supplies answers in Bridges writes for “the average person who has not necessarily experienced major catastrophe but who does frequently encounter the typical adversities and heartaches of life”. (p. 11) Using Scripture and quoting other writers, many of them Puritan writers, Bridges grapples with the problem of understanding how a good God who is sovereign can allow, and sometimes initiate, suffering through humans, nature, and accidents. (I)t often seems more difficult to trust God than to obey Him….The circumstances in which we must trust God often appear irrational and unreasonable….Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God’s revealed will. But trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries. (p.21) Bridges confronts questions about God’s goodness, His sovereignty, His wisdom, and our responsibility. Then he goes beyond the questions to apply Scripture to our times of hurt and confusion, helping us to accept our hardships and to grow spiritually. His approach is very readable. He leans toward Calvinism in his acceptance of all things arising from the hand of God, and, though he does not excuse sin in human beings who bring us grief and pain, he suggests ways of dealing with our resentment, hurt, and anger against them. He promotes both recognizing God’s sovereignty and our responsibility with a good discussion of prudence. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, making it easier to use in a group setting, as well as in private study. Jerry Bridges, a Bible teacher for the Navigators, has written several books, including the highly acclaimed The Pursuit of Holiness. Whether one fully agrees with him theologically, he addresses a thorny question thoughtfully, yet approachably. He offers much help in this short book. — Debbie W. Wilson, Christian Book Previews
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