Roslynn Bryant, author of Maximize the Season shares on trusting God in tragedy.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 states, “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
In life, we will experience both tragedy and jubilation. In times of jubilation when we laugh and dance, we enjoy gladness of heart and soul. But in the times of weeping and mourning, the pain in our hearts can almost be unbearable. Truthfully said, we are not sure what to do with the pain that we feel.
First, let us look at what we are not to do. One, we are not to speak irreverently of God by accusing Him of wrongdoing. In the Bible, there was a woman named Naomi who lost her husband and both her sons. In her pain, she accused God of dealing very bitterly with her. But at the end of her story, God blessed her through her daughter-in-law Ruth who re-married Naomi’s near relative. Ruth had a son who became the grandfather of King David through whose lineage came the Lord Jesus the Son of God. Naomi’s words seemed right to her at the time regarding God’s dealings with her for she was only focused on her loss. But in the end, she experienced great fruitfulness and an everlasting legacy. Therefore, looking at her story helps us not to accuse God of wrongdoing but to remember that He always proves His faithfulness in the end. Two, we are not to hold unforgiveness against ourselves or others. Unforgiveness brings bondage. It is better to forgive and release our offender and ourselves. We may be able to think of all the reasons why we should not forgive but that only keeps us in bondage. Let us forgive and be free. Another way of looking at forgiveness is extending mercy to others as God has extended mercy to us.
Three, we are not to shut down or become stagnant. We cannot stop living. As long as there is breath in our bodies, let us keep living. And the way we keep living is by moving forward. Some days, we will take two steps forward and other days, three steps backwards but don’t give up. We are to keep pressing onward until we go from surviving to thriving. Four, we are not to resort to sinful activities to ease the pain. How easy it is to find ourselves engaged in activities that are pleasing to our sinful nature just to ease the pain of our souls. But we are to resist the temptation to use sinful conduct as an escape. Five, we are not to give up on our relationship with God. In my times of tragedy, I realized that I may not have been able to do anything about losing my loved one but I was not going to lose God as well. I just could not afford a double loss. I could do nothing about losing my loved one but I could hold on to God.
So, what do we do with the pain? First, we are to cry out to God in prayer seeking His comfort. The Father invites us to come before His throne with great assurance that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Second, we are to express our pain in a healthy way such as journaling, counseling, sharing our feelings with a friend, creative writing, drawing, painting, or doing a physical activity. These types of activities help us to release the emotional distress and promote positive feelings. We are body, soul, and spirit. By praying to God and engaging in healthy expressions, our whole selves will be ministered to in a way that will bring wholeness.
Now, let us look at trusting God in tragedy. Many times, tragedy is joined by a crisis in our faith in God. So it is very important that we consider how to maintain our trust in God so that our relationship with Him remains strong. Since our relationship with God is built on love, we come to trust God when we fully embrace His love for us. How do we know God loves us? He showed His love in sending His Son the Lord Jesus who suffered, bled, and died for our sins and rose again so that all who believe in Him can be forgiven of sin and restored to a relationship with God forever. Since God loves us so much that He spared nothing not even His own Son to save us from eternal condemnation, then nothing on earth or in this life can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. As the truth of God’s love becomes real in our hearts, we will trust Him with our lives. As we seek God daily in prayer, study His Word regularly, and worship Him with songs and words of adoration and praise, God will draw near to us and His love becomes real to us. Then when tragedy strikes, we will be assured that God loves us, that He is with us, and that He is for us.
Works published by Roslynn Bryant:
Winning the Battle Within (2010)
At the Feet of Jesus (2010)
Becoming His Disciples (2014)
God’s Servant: A Guide for Christian Leadership (2016)
The Seven Fs to a Fruitful Life (2019)
Las Siete Claves para una Vida Fructifera (2020)
Maximize the Season (2020)
The Three Keys to Our Relationship with God (2020)
Trina’s Travel 