Who's in control?

[onlybygrace]

I am starting a new thread because this topic is about grief, but not my own. I have thankfully been spared from death to a loved one, but a story near me broke my heart and I would like to hear what anyone else thinks. In a small city a couple of hours from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where I'm from, a horrible tragedy took place last week. A husband went to Ottawa to prepare for his family's move to that city. While he was gone, a fire killed his 8-month pregnant wife and seven children. The oldest child was 11, the youngest was 19 months. This man now has nothing. Just yesterday was the funeral, and the pictures of this poor man holding the casket of his baby girl was so sad, as I have an 11 month old little girl myself. Then they showed seven hearses pulling away. So sad. The husband has a remarkable faith, saying it was his family's time to be with God.
I am struggling with this. I know tragedy happens, and God is not the one responsible. But why does He allow these horrific things to happen? I mean, this man was not spared even one child! I have been a Christian for a long time, and I know this is the question that everyone struggles with, but why did this have to happen? What was the point?

Please keep this man in your prayers. His name is Marc Woerlen.

 

[LegacyOfLove]

I don't know if this will answer your question or not...but several years back my son died from SIDS (crib death). As I struggled to make sense of it all, someone passed on this beautiful poem to me. I am sorry that I don't know who wrote it or the title to pass it along (if I can find it, I will later). But, in a nutshell...what really touched my soul/heart was this one part where it says that God is just lending us our children for a while...to take care of until He is ready to call them back home to HIM...who is truly their eternal Father.

Sometimes, there is no human way of accepting such an enormous tragedy. We don't have God's divine wisdom or understanding. We are human and to us, it is devastating.

For me, what I have learned is to put my trust in God. I trust that HE knows what is best. I trust that HE can take far better loving care of my child (even though I think I am a terrific mom). And I know that HE loves me...and this separation, no matter how tragic, unexpected and painful it is....is only TEMPORARY!! And most importantly, I hold fast to the knowledge that one day (that may seem so far away in our "human time", but only moments away in God's-time-frame)...one day...we will be reunited with our loved ones in an awesome place "HOME"...where we will NEVER AGAIN have to face the pain of separation. And it is that faith and that hope which carries me through every single day.

 

[onlybygrace]

Thank you for your reply. Your faith in God despite the tragedy in your life is very reassuring; this world is not our home. Our home is in heaven, where sin and death won't touch us anymore!

God bless you for your faith, you have inspired me to keep mine!

 

[GreenEyedLady]

Speaking as a mother who has lost her child, in a nut shell, the reason is to Glorify God.
He will use this man, so that many will be touched my the Lords grace through this man.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

GEL

 

[darketernal]

We see the things as horrible but we have a narrow view because we perceive the souls journey from 1 life perspective, if you aknowledge that the soul has to travel a long journey thru countless of lifes to return to God then it becomes a lot simpler, and as this man said, God has a plan for all of us, wether our narrow minds comprehend it is another.