A Week of Pain

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Once again, evil rears its ugly head and we ask why. Why would anyone rig such vicious bombs? The intent was clear. They did it first to slaughter and maim. Bombs exploding at the finish line of the Boston Marathon were sure to take lives and cause optimal damage. What the second reason was we can only hope to learn. But will discovering their motive prevent this type of evil?

With citizens and survivors reeling from the bombing, two days later a fertilizer plant explosion blasted Waco, Texas, killing even more. Now in its deafening echo, we see destroyed homes, altered landscape, and people forever changed.

As if these two were not enough, we also received reports of dangerous flooding in the Mid West.

Tragedy, catastrophe, and natural disaster all in one week and this is only in our country. Daily devastating news from around the world pummels our heart. Pain, sadness and fear secure a stranglehold that only God can break.


God, you say? Where is God? Why didn’t He stop it? This side of eternity, we may not know the answer to why or what good He can bring out of such horrific tragedies. Nevertheless, the Bible assures us our sovereign God is here and He is grieving because God takes no pleasure in evil. (Ezekiel 33:11)

If you are a victim, survivor, or one trembling over the events of this past week, let me encourage you. God loves you with an everlasting love. He weeps with you and His heart is breaking. God knows your pain, your torment, and the tears you have shed. Scripture confirms He records our sorrows, puts our tears into His bottle and writes them in His book. (Psalm 56:8)

Please know God longs to hold you in His loving arms, dry your eyes, comfort you, fill you with His Holy Spirit and give you His peace. Our God became flesh for many reasons, but among those were to heal the brokenhearted and comfort all who mourn. He will take your ashes, mourning and despair and then exchange them for beauty, joy, and a garment of praise. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Run to God in your pain and not away, curl-up in His lap and let Him comfort you.

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