SUNDAY June 4, 2023
When Tragedy Strikes
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Acts 12:1-2
Herod the king was appointed by Rome to rule. This was Herod Agrippa 1, not Herod the Great. He was, in fact, the nephew of Herod the Great. Satan used Herod to not only harass Christians, but to also murder the Apostle James. Once again, persecution had come against the Church. This was a difficult and sorrowful time for the Church.
During difficult and sorrowful times, we may struggle to believe that God cares and is watching over us. God allows trials to happen in our lives, but these situations are never intended to destroy us and cause us to doubt His love. God allows them so that we can draw close to His heart.
I knew a father who had a beautiful, ten-year-old daughter. They were spending time together driving in a convertible. As they were heading downhill, the father changed gears. However, he accidently shifted into reverse. At that speed, the car froze, jerked, and hit a side rail. His daughter was instantly killed. As her father, he felt so guilty, and he blamed himself for his daughter’s tragic death. It was so heart wrenching, but in this situation, he needed to guard his heart from condemnation.
Even though tragedy struck, God was in control of this whole situation. He took his young daughter early in life. She was safe in heaven with her Lord. Think about it. Although her father was grieving, she was spared from this miserable, ugly world. His daughter did not have to face any of the struggles other teenagers go through.
Maybe, as God could see ahead into the future, she might have gone astray, and He spared her parents the pain. We can speculate, but we do not know why God allowed these things to happen. He knows why.
When tragedy strikes, no one is fully prepared to deal effectively with all the responsibilities, emotional trauma, and grief that begin to impact people. Our Rapid Response Team exists so that people can find the care and comfort of Jesus Christ in the midst of tragedy.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
