The Good and the Bad vs. The Ugly

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 1 Peter 4:12-13

There’s no apparent rhyme nor reason, just what seems like a determined path of destruction. Over here, you see an old pine tree, or a pressure-treated utility pole, snapped half way up like it was nothing more than a Popsicle stick. A quarter of a mile down the road, a mobile home sits seemingly undisturbed, while a site-built home another block down is nothing more than a shambles. Peaceful, green pastures are littered with people’s furniture, their clothing, and their memories.

Tragedy comes, as do blessings, to both the evil and the good. There is no guarantee that we won’t see trials; the Scripture is full of admonition for those who are expecting a rose garden. To be sure, prayer is effective, and we serve a God who hears them, but nonetheless, sometimes, the storms hit even the most faithful. Ironically, the same events that bring the lost into the church are also the catalysts for some to abandon it.

It’s a normal part of the process for even the most faithful of Christians to question God when the storms wash away what we’ve cherished. I have enough faith in His love to believe He’s okay with the occasional “Hey, what’s the deal?!” kind of question. He knows it’s tough. Maybe He didn’t spare your house, or your loved one. Maybe you’re questioning why one person prayed and was spared, and your loved one wasn’t. I don’t know the answer, but I know that we don’t have to know; we just have to trust Him, and rely on Him to bear us through. That’s what faith does: it give us peace when we don’t understand, strength when we can’t walk, hope when we can’t see far enough.

John Garrod

(Click on the above title for a related video put together by Athena Davis)