"Why?"

If there’s a why I just can’t see it,

When a tragedy strikes close,

Good people often suffer,

Due to nothing that they chose.

Some cruel fate takes over,

And they are swept away,

Then folks try to make it better,

And often they will say,

That it was God who had a reason,

For letting this wind blow,

But I try not to listen,

‘Cause they really do not know.

There’s a certain randomness,

In this arrangement, see,

Where the whole creation’s fallen,

And things not meant to be,

Happen to the undeserving,

God does not intervene,

Even though sometimes He does,

The Spirit moves unseen.

And faith says we still trust Him,

Thought at times we question why,

And often we can’t help it,

When the evil multiplies.

Some things from sowing, reaping,

Sometimes the devil’s track,

Sometimes a combination,

Of choices and attacks.

But other times it’s not so clear,

Just a mystery unknown,

And the only way is trust the Lord,

Until our faith has grown,

To embrace what we don’t know,

And make our peace with that,

Believing still in heaven’s joy,

‘Cause that’s just where we’re at.

And if the Lord reveals to us,

What our questions want to know,

It’s really up to Him, you see,

That blessing to bestow.

But to walk by faith not knowing,

Presents a special test,

To depend on grace provided,

And in it to find our rest.

“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.” (Hebrews 4:9-11, NLT)

God promises rest to His people. Jesus invited the exhausted to come to Him and receive rest. Life has its challenges and struggles, especially when tragedy strikes. In spite of this and all our questions, we can trust God to give us peace. Being able to live with the mystery of bad things happening to good people and unexplained trouble requires faith. The good news is faith is strong enough to see us through because it is fueled by God’s promises.

Lord, give us rest, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tyler Crow, used by permission. Thanks, Tyler, and God bless you.