The Why?

I have to be honest in admitting to you that I have not watched or read many news reports about the shooting at Sandyhook. I can't watch it. It is too much for me to take in.

  People want to know why it happened. We don't know why. There is no answer. Its not fair. It is unacceptable. Some people will never get over the why. This tragedy happened and as we say in our church the "why" is an above the line question, meaning, that God has not revealed the answer to us and He may never will. (I would have liked to draw this better but I am not gifted with graphics)

GOD

 The why question?

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Things God has revealed to us (Below the line):
The Bible (His Word) 

The Holy Spirit

God's People

  As Christians many times I think the best thing we can do for those that are hurting is be with them. Hold them. Cry with them. Hurt with them. Be angry with them. Bring them back to the only true comfort we can find and that is in Jesus. So many times we try to give answers that we just do not have, this can do more harm than good.

  If we want to show these people Jesus we need to climb down off our platforms (be it gun control or putting God in schools)  and be with the broken hearted. We need to show people that it is ok to be angry and to feel abandoned. David wrote,

Psalm 10:1 "Why, O Lord, do you stand so far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"

I have never faced a tragedy like the one in Connecticut. Thankfully, I have never known that kind of suffering. I have asked God, "Why?" I have wrestled with God and the trials He has put in my life. I have felt like God was standing back with His hands off watching my pain and not helping. Thankfully I had a pastor and a women's ministry leader that helped me move on from that place. They helped me believe:

Psalm 10:14 "But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless."

Psalm 10:17 "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth may terrify no more."

 As Christians, I think we need to avoid the trap of trying to answer the "why?" and instead be praying these people are able to find comfort and then healing in Christ.

We need to be showing these people:

Jehovah Shammah - the Lord is there
Jehovah Rapha - the Lord Heals
Jehovah Shalom - the Lord is peace
Jehovah Jireh - the Lord Provides
Jehovah Raah - the Lord is my Shepperd.

 The reality is that we alone cannot provide comfort or peace for any of the people affected by the tragedy (including ourselves). Only God can provide the comfort needed:

John 14:27 " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid"

The families of the students, teachers, and staff have my prayers. their healing will be a long process. I pray God would reveal Himself to all of them and give them the comfort only He can provide.