When We Can’t Explain the World’s Pain

Wordless.

 

Sometimes that’s what life makes us.

 

When we see the tragedies in the world, our own selves falling apart, the world splitting with injustice, and evil, and suffering – we don’t know what to say.

 

In our heads, we know that God is all good, all powerful, and full of compassion and love.

 

Yet when life makes us ache, brings us to our breaking point, and the world shouts, “How could you believe in a God that allows you to suffer?” we’re often silent.

I don’t pretend to have the answers as to why tragedies happen. And honestly, that’s not what this post is about.

 

It’s about being okay with being quiet.

 

The Christian life and faith is not about blindly accepting the will of an evil tyrant “God,” nor is it about ignorantly believing in a cosmic Santa Claus, who gives us everything we ask for if only we believe hard enough.

 

Life presents us with the unexpected, things both good and bad. And in the midst of the pain, the longing for things to be good and hopeful again, it’s not so much about the answers we can come up with.

 

It’s about trusting God in the hurt.

 

It’s about leaning on truth when we can’t “feel” God’s presence.

 

It’s about recalling what we know about who God truly is, about relying on His strength as we find ourselves without any of our own.

 

It’s about accepting that we do not have all the answers, and that one day, all things will be right because of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

 

We can have hope right where we are because God is good, even when life is not. Because He loves us, even when the world rejects us. Because His grace stretches to the deep, dark, painful areas of our lives just as much as the holy-looking places.

 

Having a relationship with God is not a religion to rigidly pursue, but a grace to fully embrace.

 

We forget this oftentimes, in favor of a works-based system that gets us nowhere, filled with constant striving and unattainable perfection.

 

But grace is different.

 

Grace acknowledges the messed-up brokenness found in the world and says, “I know the world hurts, and I know that it’s hard to fathom why sometimes, but soon it will all be mended.”

 

This isn’t wishful thinking, it’s the work of an amazing God, administering justice to all, while still remaining merciful, loving, compassionate, and full of grace.

 

Whether we know what to say or we don’t, whether everything’s great or we’re falling apart, whether we’re feeling God’s presence and joy or we feel broken and empty, these truths remain.

 

God is always good, always loving, always present in our lives. He is trustworthy, He is true, and He is worthy of putting our faith in, no matter what the world looks like.

 

Psalm 103:8

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

 

Psalm 103:13

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

 

Psalm 145:18

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

 

1 Peter 4:19

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

 

Revelation 21:4

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”