It was hard to take in. What began as a festive, 26-mile run, ended in horrific loss and utter chaos. The Boston Marathon was not supposed to end this way. My heart went out to all the contestants and spectators and their families in the wake of this tragedy. In a matter of moments, lives were changed in ways I could not imagine.
Devastating loss is often accompanied by agonizing questions. Why did this happen? How can I handle this loss? How will this affect my family? These heart-wrenching questions may not be answered immediately. They may not be answered at all.
Where can we turn in times of grief and heartbreak? When everything is crumbling around us God is there. And He cares. He offers comfort, peace, and strength in our darkest hours.
Trying times
The Lord hears the cries of our heart. The Psalmist David was a man who had experienced unbelievable loss: the death of his best friend Jonathan, the loss of his baby boy, and years later, the death of his son Absalom.
He learned to trust God with the incredible burdens he carried. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he penned the following words:
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
Finding comfort
In times of tragedy we can look to the Lord for comfort (click to tweet). He is described as “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort,” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He offers us comfort for each and every difficulty we face (2 Corinthians 1:4). The promise of His presence gives us hope to hold on to.
As a result of sin, bad things happen to good people. Loss and grief follow. As hard as it is to comprehend, peace is still possible. It is a peace that defies logic; a peace we can experience even when our world is falling apart.
Experiencing peace
When we pour our hearts out to God in despair, something beautiful happens:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Circumstances may not change, but in the midst of our hurt, we can have true peace.
When Jesus lived on this earth, He experienced great loss just like we do. When His friend Lazarus died, the Bible says Jesus wept (John 11:35). He was no stranger to grief.
Receiving help
Because Christ is able to identify with our sorrows, he can also offer help: He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). As we grapple with our loss and realize we’re unable to handle it on our own, He waits with open arms to take our burden and give us His strength.
Healing is possible
In light of the Boston tragedy, it’s comforting to know we can cry out to God, lean on His comfort and strength, and allow Him to lead us through our valley. By choosing the Lord’s help, and hope, we will eventually find healing (click to tweet).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, it’s so hard to deal with the senseless loss of life that happened in Boston. Please bring Your comfort and peace to all the families dealing with loss and injury as a result of this tragedy. Thank You for the help, hope, and healing that You offer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
