Seeking peace in tragedy

[Wonderland]

I understand why there is injustice in the world.
I understand why God allows it.

But yesterday I heard a horrific story about a 4 year old girl who was beaten to death on her birthday by her parents.

The description of her injuries made me sick to my stomach. I haven't stopped crying for 2 days. I've been begging God for peace. It comes, but it's fleeting. I can't stop thinking about it. I did a search online to see if I could find out more about the story--maybe get some closure... or something. I didn't find her story, but I found story after story of other children... and all I could think was "Why God? Why?"

I've been begging God to take this sadness and pain away from me. He reminded me that this is only a glimmer of how His heart feels. He was there when the little girl died. He saw it all, and He knows how it feels. But still I begged him, "Please! Take this from me, it's too much for me to bear."

As I was talking with Him, I said something that made me realize that it was no accident I heard this story and was so moved by it. I said, "Am I just begging you to take this pain away from me so I can go back to being complacent in my comfortable life?" Wow... That's absolutely true. And I don't think I'm ok with that.

Then He reminded me that long ago I wanted to adopt children. I've given up on that dream since I had my own daughter, and thousands and thousands of dollars in student loans--I will never be able to afford a house. "What does that matter?" He said. "I can afford a house for you. But I'm not going to let you forget about your dream. After all, I'm the one who gave it to you."

I'm certainly not okay with what happened to that little girl, or those thousands of other little babies and children who die at the hands of their parents every year, but for the first time in days I have peace. And purpose.

 

[Cabbage]

I am glad that you have found peace and a purpose. God teaches us a lot, but sometimes he has to bring us to our knees because most of the people, like me, get up off of our knees and go back to our comfortable life like you said. We don't stay constantly at the feet of Jesus.

 

[Forlorn-Hope]

Things like that always make me wonder... if there is a God. I dont think Id want anything to do with It

 

[Ramon]

Things like that always make me wonder... if there is a God. I dont think Id want anything to do with It

As sure as there is God, there is Satan. So you are looking to the wrong one. Jesus came to warn us about this, calling him the god of this world, which he is, and actively rules all unbelievers.

I hear people say it all the time, ''omg.'' And I know they are not talking about the one true God, but to their god, Satan, else they would not take the Lord so vainly with their mouths. And anyone who hates Jesus hates the one true God. Anyone who hates his neighbor does not know the one True God, neither does God know him.

Jesus made it clear that if anyone came to him he would give them life. Should we blame God for the corruption of men through sin? This has been what God has been trying to prevent, which is sin of the heart leading to sin of the flesh. Still you can't see how even evil a person is who speaks against God? I tell you this, anyone who is full of lust in his heart is a rapist at heart. And anyone who is full of anger in his heart is full of murder in his heart. That is true.

May Jesus bless you.

 

[zeroturbulence]

I understand why there is injustice in the world.
I understand why God allows it.

But yesterday I heard a horrific story about a 4 year old girl who was beaten to death on her birthday by her parents.

The description of her injuries made me sick to my stomach. I haven't stopped crying for 2 days. I've been begging God for peace. It comes, but it's fleeting. I can't stop thinking about it. I did a search online to see if I could find out more about the story--maybe get some closure... or something. I didn't find her story, but I found story after story of other children... and all I could think was "Why God? Why?"

I've been begging God to take this sadness and pain away from me. He reminded me that this is only a glimmer of how His heart feels. He was there when the little girl died. He saw it all, and He knows how it feels. But still I begged him, "Please! Take this from me, it's too much for me to bear."

As I was talking with Him, I said something that made me realize that it was no accident I heard this story and was so moved by it. I said, "Am I just begging you to take this pain away from me so I can go back to being complacent in my comfortable life?" Wow... That's absolutely true. And I don't think I'm ok with that.

Then He reminded me that long ago I wanted to adopt children. I've given up on that dream since I had my own daughter, and thousands and thousands of dollars in student loans--I will never be able to afford a house. "What does that matter?" He said. "I can afford a house for you. But I'm not going to let you forget about your dream. After all, I'm the one who gave it to you."

I'm certainly not okay with what happened to that little girl, or those thousands of other little babies and children who die at the hands of their parents every year, but for the first time in days I have peace. And purpose.

Maybe this scripture will shed some light on why things like this are happenning...

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

 

[Forlorn-Hope]

Thanks for calling me a rapist and murderer Ramon, good way to lighten up my day.

 

[Mrdll]

Thanks for calling me a rapist and murderer Ramon, good way to lighten up my day.

He didn't! God does!
Matthew 5:21-22 says, 21. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Also 1 John 3:15, Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Matthew 5:27-28, "27. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

God deals with the heart of man. From the heart the mouth speaks. Now the rapest part is kind of harsh however if you lust in your heart you are commenting adultery. You can comment adultery without raping, however you cannot rape without commenting adultery, and if you hate your brother you have murdered him in your heart. That is where God deals with us!

Come on guy! Your 16 years old. You haven't even lived yet. Give God a chance in your life. You never regret it!