Trust and Tragedy

For Christians, part of living out our trust in Jesus Christ is dealing with things we don’t understand. If ever there was such an event, the horrifying murders at Virginia Tech are a perfect example. In our effort to comprehend this calamity, our brains are about to short-circuit.

Questions penetrate our souls like bullets of doubt and fear. How? Why? Who?

It reminds me of the biblical account of Job. In the course of a single day, he suffered immense personal tragedy, including the loss of his nearly twelve-thousand head of livestock, and the murder or kidnapping of dozens of employees, and the death of his ten children.

His response is both astonishing and informative. Scripture declares that when he learned of the terrible events of that tragic day, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:21).

Let’s unpack the amazing actions of this mighty man of faith, and see what we can learn from them.

First, Job tore his robe and shaved his head. In ancient Israel, these two actions were expressions of extreme grief. What this shows us is that Job wasn’t just a stoic. He was truly devastated. His losses were great and they affected him greatly. He was in deep and serious anguish, and he didn’t care who knew it.

But notice what else Job did. Though he was an emotional wreck, he didn’t let this keep him from worshiping God. In his grief, he “fell on the ground and worshiped.”

Why did he do this? For that matter why would we?

One obvious reason Job worshiped in the midst of tragedy was that he was a worshiper. In other words, he understood himself as a person who lived to worship God. Job’s practice and response in all circumstances was to worship God. Worship was not a circumstantially-motivated action for Job. Worship was the core of his being. He worshiped. Period. So it was natural that when catastrophe struck, he worshiped then too.

What about you? Do you think of yourself as a worshiper, someone who lives to worship God? Or do you just worship when things are going well?

Another reason Job worshiped in the midst of disaster is that he saw beyond the situation to the goodness of God. He knew God for Who He truly is, and thus, his worship was motivated by the truth about God, not the circumstances of his life. Because he had spent so much time getting to know God, Job had developed a deep and abiding confidence in His everlasting goodness and grace. No trials of this temporary life could shake this trust.

How much time do you spend getting to know God? How much energy do you devote to the development of a trust relationship with Him? When tragedy strikes, it may be too late for you to develop that relationship. Now, today, while you still have the opportunity, is the time to run to Him and worship. With all your questions, praise Him. In your confusion and grief, bow down to Him. He is there, waiting and worthy for your worship.