In the Face of Tragedy
This past weekend our little town of Warsaw, IN had a terrible hit....we lost 4 very well-known and loved men. *All four men were active in my home church
(Warsaw Community Church)
See article
I think I may be in the wrong profession.
(In fact, I'm currently waiting to step down from my current job, due to some of the requirements that have been added to what I already do...I know, some would say I'm right where He wants me. Well, I'm not totally convinced of that quite yet.)
Yet...
It seems like over and over again, God places me in positions that involve caring, encouraging, and comforting those who have gone or are going through some kind of tragedy. This kind of "helping" has continually been difficult for me, mostly due to the fact that there has been so much death and tragedy throughout my own life (some, I probably haven't fully dealt with.). The pain I still often feel comes swelling back into my emotions, when I am faced with a similar situation to what I went through myself. I find myself feeling helpless and even pulling the person down that is already feeling defeated.
No matter where I go or what I do, I know that God's presence and plan for all His children is to find comfort and peace in Him.
Through all of this tragedy, God has a purpose. So many people in our small town personally knew at least one of these men who died. Many more knew of them and the great influence of goodness and Christian love they had.
May we always remember these things in the face of tragedy!
I think I may be in the wrong profession.
(In fact, I'm currently waiting to step down from my current job, due to some of the requirements that have been added to what I already do...I know, some would say I'm right where He wants me. Well, I'm not totally convinced of that quite yet.)
Yet...
It seems like over and over again, God places me in positions that involve caring, encouraging, and comforting those who have gone or are going through some kind of tragedy. This kind of "helping" has continually been difficult for me, mostly due to the fact that there has been so much death and tragedy throughout my own life (some, I probably haven't fully dealt with.). The pain I still often feel comes swelling back into my emotions, when I am faced with a similar situation to what I went through myself. I find myself feeling helpless and even pulling the person down that is already feeling defeated.
No matter where I go or what I do, I know that God's presence and plan for all His children is to find comfort and peace in Him.
Through all of this tragedy, God has a purpose. So many people in our small town personally knew at least one of these men who died. Many more knew of them and the great influence of goodness and Christian love they had.
May we always remember these things in the face of tragedy!
What do we do, when such a tragic loss occurs?
We pray.
We mourn.
We come together.
We share.
We listen.
We hold one another.
We support with words.
We provide any needs the families may have.
We don't judge, when they mourn in their own ways.
We remember those who died.
And we pray some more.
There has been a lot of tragedy all over this country...not just recently (like the shooting in Oregon), but over the years.
Not just here in the United States, but all over the world.
So, how do we respond to each of those tragedies?
In the same way we treat them locally.
And, in the midst of tragedy, God shows up.
He provides comfort, peace, and eventually
we find joy once again.
Our lives will never be the same (I know from experience.), but He gives us the strength to carry on, when we have no strength left on our own.
In time, we move ahead. We find hope again.
Where does that hope come from?
None other than Jesus Christ, Himself!!
Will you please say a prayer for the families of these men, as well? Most of them have wives and children. All have caring family members and friends who will be grieving for a long time.
Psalm 30:5
Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Linking up at these blog hops:
We share.
We listen.
We hold one another.
We support with words.
We provide any needs the families may have.
We don't judge, when they mourn in their own ways.
We remember those who died.
And we pray some more.
There has been a lot of tragedy all over this country...not just recently (like the shooting in Oregon), but over the years.
Not just here in the United States, but all over the world.
So, how do we respond to each of those tragedies?
In the same way we treat them locally.
We pray.
We mourn.
We come together.
We share.
We listen.
We hold one another.
We support with words.
We provide any needs the families may have.
We don't judge, when they mourn in their own ways.
We remember those who died.
And we pray some more.
We share.
We listen.
We hold one another.
We support with words.
We provide any needs the families may have.
We don't judge, when they mourn in their own ways.
We remember those who died.
And we pray some more.
And, in the midst of tragedy, God shows up.
He provides comfort, peace, and eventually
we find joy once again.
Our lives will never be the same (I know from experience.), but He gives us the strength to carry on, when we have no strength left on our own.
In time, we move ahead. We find hope again.
Where does that hope come from?
None other than Jesus Christ, Himself!!
Will you please say a prayer for the families of these men, as well? Most of them have wives and children. All have caring family members and friends who will be grieving for a long time.
Lamentations 3:31-33
For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone.
Psalm 30:5
Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Linking up at these blog hops:
I'm so sorry to hear this devastating news. I think we can do nothing more than hold on to that promise of tomorrow on Psalm 30:5.
ReplyDeleteAmen!! I am almost positive that they were all believers, even though I really didn't know or ever talk with any of them personally. Already, God is using the one who was a coach/counselor at the local high school. Students are becoming bold in their faith, in reverence for the coach who was such a wonderful example of Christ's love at the school.
DeleteCharlie was my husband's football coach at Valley. Bibler was his teammate. We all are in shock about this. Valley has been through so much the past few years. Just hate to see this happen.
ReplyDeleteWow! I hadn't realized that there were some local bloggers that are connecting with this post!! It has been a shock, for sure. But, just as you knew Charlie and Scott, through their sports, others are also expressing the opportunities they have had to get to know these guys!! God is already showing up!!
Delete