"When Tragedy Strikes"

I think it’s fair to say that we have all experienced suffering to one degree or another. For some it’s the loss of a loved one, for another it may be dealing with a long term illness, for for others it may be an traumatic experience. We can’t avoid these kinds of problems, we often can’t control what happens, but we can control how we respond when they happen. What do we usually do when bad things happen to us.

I find it encouraging to know that people in the Bible faced the same kind of troubles that we do. The psalms have quite a few expressions of questioning God, asking why. In today’s reading we see one of David’s responses during a time of deep distress.

Psalm 13:1–6 NIV84

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

Notice that David asks God, “How long?”, four times in the first two verses. He felt that God had forgotten him or was hiding from him. He asks God for an answer, to give light to his eyes, not so he will understand but so that he will see God’s presence once again.

Presence of suffering

We don’t know the exact situation David is dealing with, but there are a number of possibilities:

Saul attempted to kill him, happened twice

On the run for about ten years, at times living in caves in the wilderness

His son tries to overthrow him

May also be suffering from an illness

Job also went through a very painful time – having his wealth stolen, his children killed in an accident, and then a serious illness. We hear his prayer:

Job 13:24 Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?

Job 30:20–27 NIV84

“I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me. You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me. You snatch me up and drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the storm. I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living. “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress. Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.

Possible reasons for suffering

When we experience a tragedy, when we are suffering, we often do not understand why it is happening, just as Job did not know why he suffered. It is important to recognize that suffering is not necessarily a result of sin, that God is not punishing us. Job was righteous, yet he suffered, Jeremiah was doing God’s will, yet he suffered, Paul was a great person of faith, yet he suffered, Jesus was without sin, yet He also suffered.

We may not understand why something bad happens, nevertheless, we can trust that there is a reason even if we do not know what it is. Here are some possible reasons:

Fallen world – sin has affected both natural systems and societal systems

Free will – results of our own choices, or someone else’s choices

We have an enemy – Satan

1 Peter 5:8 NIV84

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Discipline – because God loves us, get our attention and turn us back to Him

Hebrews 12:5–7 NIV84

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Strengthen us – builds character

Romans 5:3–4 NIV84

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Teach us – some things can only be learned the hard way

Hebrews 5:8 NIV84

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Sometimes it may be an opportunity for God to reveal His glory or for us learn more about God’s power:

The man born blind

Lazarus’ death

Prepare us - for some task

God may want to use us in a particular way requiring us to experience suffering so that we can help others who are suffering in the same way.

An old violin maker was much envied by fellow artisans because of the superior quality of the instruments he produced. He finally disclosed the secret of his success. He said that while the others went into the protected valleys to cut wood to make their violins, he climbed the rugged crags of a nearby mountain in order to secure trees which had become severely twisted and gnarled by storms. From these weather-beaten monarchs of the forest he then fabricated his violins—famous for their tone and beauty.

He knew that the fierce trials of the mountain gales caused such trees to strengthen and toughen their fibers. It was this—their storm-tortured heart and grain—that produced the deep, colorful sound when the instrument was played. Likewise, the Lord allows sore difficulties to come into our lives that we may more fully bring forth the music of His grace when our soul-trying experiences have done their sanctifying work. David Jeremiah, “Sanctuary”.

Promises for when we suffer

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV84

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Romans 8:28 NIV84

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Our response

Prayer – That is what this psalm is. By asking God ‘How long’, David was acknowledging that there was reason for his suffering.

God is not offended by our honest questions or even our heated complaints. Both confirm our desire for relationship and our faith that all is not as it should be. We can openly express our feelings to God

One of the wonderful things about the Scripture is its honesty. It shows us great people of faith who express their questions, even challenge God, when they suffer. It’s all right to ask ‘why?’ and ‘how long?’ The important thing is that we do go to God. That’s what David is doing in this psalm.

We know that in this world we will have trials, but we also know that we have God’s promises and the Holy Spirit to sustain and strengthen us, we can respond to these trials with faith.

Trust in God’s unfailing love – even when God seems absent, we have His promise that He will leave nor forsake us. He desires what is best for us, and sometimes that may involve ‘tough love’.

Rejoice in your salvation – even when we experience trials in this life we know that we have a better world waiting for us. Focus on what God has done for us and what He has in store for us.

Sing to the Lord – music can often lift the soul up to God

Remember how God has been good to you

So, what will our response be when hardships come? Because we have such examples, been given such promises, and know God’s love, we should put our trust in Him, claim His promises in prayer, and focus on learning from the experience.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 NIV84

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.