Sorrow can cause us to doubt God’s plan. Even the writer Psalms wondered if God was still there and if he still cared:” Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” ( Psalm 77:8-9 ). Though we may face trouble and difficulties, sadness and pain, God is still in control, and he is always with us.

Life can sometimes leave us feeling completely crushed and lost. When terrible things happen, you may feel like you’re the only one who has ever felt so bad. It may help to remember that as long as there have been people, bad things have happened to them.

Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. …His wife said to him,” Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied,” You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
(Job 2:7, 9-10)

What should help even more is to know that God has been with all people who have suffered, comforting and caring for them in dark times.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
(Psalm 34:18)

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
(Psalm 6:9)

Even Jesus experienced deep sorrow while he was living on earth as one of us. In the Garden of Gethsemane, where he prayed the night before he died, the Bible says that Jesus was actually sweating blood because he was in such turmoil. Jesus did that for you, and when you experience deep sorrow, he’ll be there to see you through it. He’s been there and knows what it’s like.

Probably the deepest sorrow we’ll face in this life is losing people we love to death. But God reminds us that he is still in control. Death is not the master-God is!

Never again will they hunger; Never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, Nor any scorching heat. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
(Revelation 7:16-17)

Jesus said,” I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

I’m a college professor. Sometimes I ask my students,” What is the most evil thing that ever happened in human history? They always answer,” The crucifixion of Jesus! ” Then I ask,” What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened in human history?” The same students say,” The crucifixion of Jesus! ” This horrible event, which was the result of sin, was taken by God and transformed into something that has blessed people everywhere.

God doesn’t make bad things happen, but he is at work in the middle of all things, overcoming evil with good and turning tragedy into blessings. So, instead of asking,” Why does God allow bad things to happen?” we should be asking,” What can God do through this tragedy? How can I work with God to turn this into something good?”

~ Tony Compolo ~

Taken from Footprints for Teens by Margaret Fishback Powers