WEEPING COMES IN THE NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING

The Christmas season is a time of sadness for many people. Thanks be to God, He promises joy and peace in the midst of sorrow. May you be filled with His joy and peace no matter what your circumstance. We join with the angels and sing, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will to men.”

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair

Tragedy and Triumph

The hearts of our nation ache for those who lost loved ones in the recent Connecticut shooting. Evil brings tragic deaths and other losses every day, it seems, according to news reports. Many tragedies are far removed from our relatively safe environments, so we feel badly then forget it happened. When young children are struck down senselessly, however, the horror strikes all our hearts.

Sadly, more tragedies will happen in the future. None of us can run from them as they bring despair and hopelessness to many. When sin entered God’s perfect world, it raised all kinds of havoc. Sinful actions severed relationships between families and countries alike, bringing hatred and war. As long as evil exists, we can count on more wars, more severed relationships, more death.

When tragedy happens, such as this most recent one, many people blame God for its cause and subsequent suffering. But God is not an unjust, uncaring bystander who leaves us to fend for ourselves. The Bible tells how Jesus loved children and welcomed them to Himself. He took joy in them, displaying the same emotions we do. He wept, too, when His friend, Lazarus, died. And He wept over Jerusalem, God’s holy city, seeing its pervading ungodliness and spiritual rebellion.

Jesus weeps over the trials we face, too. He knows our sorrows because He sorrowed. And He promises healing to those who suffer loss. Though we will continue to be touched by evil, we have only to draw near to God and rest in Him—His Word and His peaceful presence—to triumph over tragedy.

Thanks be to God, through the love of Christ we can find peace in the midst of tragedy. God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. All we have to do is trust His Word that it is so.

We cannot possibly explain why tragedies happen. We do know, however, that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) We may not see His good in the midst of tragedy, but that doesn’t mean it will not come.

God promises to heal the brokenhearted, bit by bit, through the loving acts of His followers. Such are the acts of millions responding to the Connecticut tragedy.

Lord, use us to help bring healing to the brokenhearted, especially during this Christmas season when we worshipfully consider the gift of Your Son, Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.