by Anna Haiar

Handling Life’s Unanswered Questions in the Face of Tragedy

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…”
Deuteronomy 29:29 English Standard Version

Like so many people, I am struggling to make sense of the historic flooding and heartbreaking tragedy in Texas Hill Country that occurred over the 4^th of July weekend. Social media and news reports are filled with pictures of missing loved ones and recovered victims, along with tragic, devastating outcomes. The stories of so many young girls at a Christian camp who were victims of the flood are perhaps the hardest to read. Christian commentary has begun to try and fill in the gaps and answer hard questions, such as why God would allow this to happen to so many people, let alone a body of young believers? And why didn’t He stop it? Theologians and lay people alike are wrestling with questions that will likely remain unanswered until we’re before the throne of God.

In moments like these, when grief cuts deep and answers feel painfully absent, we find ourselves standing in the tension between what we know about God’s goodness and what we cannot begin to understand about His purposes. This is the very space where faith is most fiercely tested. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” There are things—heart-wrenching, life-shattering things—that we simply cannot explain this side of heaven.

But what has been revealed to us is the character of God. His Word tells us that He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), that He collects every tear in a bottle (Psalm 56:8), and that one day, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). Even when we cannot trace His hand, we can trust His heart.

It’s okay to wrestle with the unknown and sit uncomfortably in the space of unanswered questions. God does not ask us to silence our pain or plaster on a fake smile. He invites us to bring our shattered hearts to Him, to mourn with those who mourn, and to live in the hope that one day, all the broken pieces will be made whole. In the meantime, when the answers don’t come, we hold fast to what we do know:

God is still good.
God is still sovereign.
God is still with us.

When tragedy leaves us speechless, may we find comfort not in explanations, but in the gentle presence of the One who promises never to leave us nor forsake us.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado