When Tragedy Strikes Part 1

 

Notice the title, "When Tragedy Strikes."

At one time or another you will go through some type of tragedy, but how are you to handle it?

Let's take a look at Job to gain some insight.

 

Satan stood before God one day.He had been roaming the earth.

 Why?

 He was probably looking for someone to test, at least that's what I gather from the text.

 

The Lord asked him if he had considered His servant Job.

He knew that Job was unlike any on the earth (v8). He was blameless, upright, feared God, and shunned evil.
 Isn't that amazing that God Himself viewed Job as all of those things. WoW.

Satan challenged Jobs character.
He told the Lord that the only reason Job was such a faithful servant was because he and his family were always protected,  the works of his hands were blessed, and he had no need or want because of his great wealth and possessions.

Satan told God that if He took away all that Job had that he would surely curse Him to His face.(v11)

So, the Lord gave satan permission to test Job with only one requirement; he could not lay a hand on Jobs person.

Did you see that?
The Lord gave satan permission to test Job.

He can do nothing unless he goes through God first.

Satan can do nothing to any of God's children without God's permission!!

That means that God still has control over what is going on in your life!!

He has allowed trials, circumstances, tragedies in your life for a purpose.

Why would God give satan this permission?

I believe, in Jobs case as well as yours, that He allows these things to grow your faith, to conform you into His Sons, Jesus', image, and to prove to satan that you are His faithful servant.

 

 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:28-31

 

  

Let's look at what happened next....

Satan destroyed EVERYTHING that Job had....he killed his servants, livestock, and his children.

He took everything from Job. His status, his wealth, and the thing he loved the most, his childern...and that all on the same day.

Talk about tragedy.

 

But, what did Job do?

How did he handle to news of so much devestation?

 

"Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshipped,

And he said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

And naked shall I return there.

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the Lord."

 

  

Did you catch that?

JOB WORSHIPPED GOD!!!

What an amazingly powerful testimony.

That's not to say that he didn't mourn for his loss. He definitely did, as you can see in the Scriptures above.

 

How do you handle tragedy, trials, circumstances?

Do you have such a close relationship with God that you handle them as Job did?

 

It's ok to mourn a loss. You are human. Just don't stay there.

This is your chance to glorify God, to prove your faith, and to let the whole world see Jesus.

 

 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4
 

Don't let your tragedy ruin your life.

I've been through many tragedies, but I've learned through them all, that as I continue to seek the Lord, knowing Him more intimately, and am obedient to what He has shown me, when the tragedies come I can rest assured knowing that He has a purpose, for me as well as those watching me, and is with me through it all.

 

 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9