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It can be challenging to believe in Him, who is ever-merciful when one has seen so much suffering. What does reconciling faith and tragedy mean?
What is the best evidence of God’s existence?
If God is anything, He’s compassionate, a symbol of absolute mercy and unconditional love. In fact, the Bible has captured the essence of His sentiment in John 3:16, where it says:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God’s love lies in His sacrifices. The verse alone already reflects the beauty in His love and His unhesitating decision to give up His precious son for the sake of humanity. It captures how powerful this emotion runs for humanity, saving them despite their sins in exchange for His son. Throughout the Bible, people are shown endless instances of His kindness, and it’s no wonder He’s considered an all-kind and ever-merciful father.
But Is God Truly How He’s Perceived?
Questioning God’s mercy will come across as controversial. After all, doubting the creator’s kindness despite everything He’s done is nothing but ungrateful. However, given the world’s current state, perhaps people may have the right to doubt His mercy if not His existence.
It seems unjust to jump right into the doubt train at the onset of trouble.
But when one is deeply in despair and unable to rest with all the woes piling on, it may also become unfair not to receive an answer. In the existence of cruelty and tragedy, where is He in all of it?
People call out for Him when the suffering becomes intolerable. Whenever they feel helpless, they seek His hand and presence for guidance and strength. There may be times when He shows up, times when clarity is handed to people and their perception of life. But more often than not, when it doesn’t directly concern them, it’s also easy to believe His absence. If the focus falls on every cruelty and chaos that befell the Earth, faith would seem an insoluble concept.
Many would claim and agree that God is good. They have everything in their favor. But for those who struggle day in and out, what does reconciling faith and tragedy mean for them?
Understanding Not Everything’s in Control
Richard Berry tackles humans’ tendency to question God in his book Sheltered by Jesus, A Voice for the Homeless. In his fifth book, the author offers clarity and comfort to those guilt-ridden about this. He mentions that even religious men can face doubt when struck with the darkest times. This chapter reminds people to overcome this doubt and come back stronger.
This book reminds us that there will always be challenges that force people to question God. But while this is true, it shouldn’t be the norm.
In all honesty, reconciling faith and tragedy seems like an impossible job. How can you forgive an all-powerful creator who chooses to make you struggle and grieve? After all, if He’s genuinely merciful, He wouldn’t stomach putting anyone in staggering situations. However, He not only puts a single person but often an entire population in dire conditions.
Finding the reason is futile. Not everyone has the heart to validate mass suffering to justify religion. But there will always be an answer. Humanity’s biggest mistake in perceiving His mercy is that He has everyone’s best interest at heart. His love is so vast that He will always put everyone out of harm’s way.
However, He has His limits of control and authority. Despite being the creator, He can’t always run people’s lives according to His interest.
Reconciling Faith and Tragedy
Hence, when reconciling faith and tragedy, the first step everyone must undergo is acceptance. They must hold their tongues and fingers from blaming Him when challenges overpower their happiness. He doesn’t want it happening over His people. In fact, when tragedy strikes, He’s believed to grieve with the individuals.
Reconciling faith and tragedy means seeing the world’s horrors as incidents, not His conscious decision. These situations will always exist, and the fabric of life may never be altered to fit everyone’s best interests. The existence of evil and suffering doesn’t necessarily mean He doesn’t.
Life promises tragedy.
Although tragedy may be an ever-present component, this doesn’t disprove His mercy. Reconciling faith and tragedy means understanding that His goodness can operate despite it.