When something terrible happens, questions roll around in our minds continuously. We constantly find ourselves seeking answers. We feel empty, abandoned, and alone as we seek the answers to our hardest questions.

The question of “why” seems to be at the forefront of all this. Why me? Why us? Why them? Why now? Why? We need to realize “why” is a valid question. Why do we have to endure this terrible thing? When we look to the Bible, we see that asking God “why” is never wrong. He understands our questions and sympathizes with them.

In the middle of our turmoil, we call out to God to help us make sense of this terrible thing. David cries out in Psalm 13, a beautiful prayer for help when a terrible thing happens. He writes:

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

When something terrible happens, it’s healthy for us to cry out to God and ask Him questions. It’s part of how we grieve. It is important for us to remember that it is okay and healthy to grieve and display our emotions. When we grieve, we learn to draw near to God, who is the great Comforter. Jesus says in the sermon on the mount, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

When something terrible happens, one of the most healthy ways to grieve is to surround ourselves with friends and family. When Mary and Martha were mourning the loss of their brother, they pulled their friends and family in close to grieve with them (John 11:31-33). When Job had lost everything but his faith, he pulled his three best friends close to help him reason through his loss (Job 2:11-13). Now is the time to be the closest to our friends and family like never before.

When something terrible happens, we have to remind ourselves to trust in the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-8 says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.

Things happen in this life that we do not understand. People get sick, people get hurt, and people die. When this happens, we need to learn to place our trust in the Lord. The Lord provides stability when everything around us seems to be crashing down. David says in Psalm 18:1-2

I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

When something terrible happens, it’s okay to ask why.
When something terrible happens, it’s healthy to cry out to God.
When something terrible happens, we must surround ourselves with family and friends.
When something terrible happens, we need to trust in the Lord.

~ Alex