When Tragedy Rains

Title Inspiration

I think Benjamin Mee put this feeling to words best, after he lost his wife to cancer and had to face life again.

  "But I didn't know what to do to put it right, and each time I contemplated tackling it, it left me feeling like I was running across the Sahara in lead shoes with a plastic bag over my head." 

If this describes you at one time or maybe today- keep reading. If not, congratulations.

For the first time in my entire life I have been able to embrace tragedy. Not like, oh yes please give me more this is so fun I love this. No. But I have noticed a remarkable pattern in my life. When tragedy has knocked on my door, I had a number of responses to the situation. But every time it was all said and done, and I had the chance to look back at what I had just gone through, I realized I had honestly come out a better version of myself. Praise God. I didn't always have the right response to hard things, but every time I made the conscious decision to trust God even though it was incredibly difficult, it always worked out to be in my favor. That's the beauty in tragedy.

James 1:2-4

    "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing." 

I think we go through hell on earth and it makes us who we are- better or worse that is up to you. I would never be who I am today if it wasn't for all the tragedy that slept with me at night. But I am proud of the person I am today. I wouldn't want to be anyone else. I think all the happy times we have in life become the memories that inspire us to keep on living. Because the good times are so sweet we would live one more day just to feel that way again.

I want to look back on every tragedy and confidently say "I trusted God through that". I can confidently say right now that God has worked everything out in my life just the way He wanted it, even when I didn't understand. So why is this time any different? It's not. Even though I have no idea what He is doing, I know He is doing something. And I know it is gonna be great.

1 Peter 1:6-9

⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls

Knowing God's providence is understanding that it doesn't all have to make sense, but to realize there is a greater purpose He is accomplishing through you because of it.

I know God is going to give me the best. I know that because He always has. In my finite mind, what I am going through is a new tragedy I have to overcome. One that I don't understand, one that came straight out of a perfectly blue sky and now appears to be a black layer of clouds stretching into my future and beyond.

But to God, this is an opportunity for me to trust Him, grow closer to Him, and He knew all about this long before it happened. He also knows when it will end, how I will feel tomorrow, and how much I will change because of it. The most important truth I cling to is God loves me and has so much in store for me, I just need to trust Him and love Him back. It is a struggle every day to not give up, and be angry at God for not removing this heartache right now. He has brought me thus far, He isn't going to abandon me now. And I know I can't live without Him.

“I walked a mile with Pleasure;

She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow;

And ne’er a word said she;

But, oh! The things I learned from her,

When Sorrow walked with me.”

- Robert Browning