It’s been a rough couple of months for many of my readers.

We’ve prayed for babies as they go under the surgeon’s knife, dread cutting into the hearts of mothers and fathers as they leave their precious children in operating rooms.

We’ve prayed for friends as they endured round after round of medical testing. Still a diagnosis eludes doctors and uncertainty looms large.

We’ve prayed as doctors spoke the words every parent fears the most, “Your child has cancer.”

We’ve prayed for spouses left alone, families torn apart, and prodigals to return home.

And the heart breaks a little more with each prayer request that comes in.

In the face of so much tragedy, what are we to do?

Many would tell us we dare not ask God “Why?” when the heart breaks and the tears fall.

That it’s sinful to cry out in anguish to God, begging for answers.

But I beg to differ. I firmly believe it’s okay to voice our questions to God.

Look at Jesus–the sinless, perfect, Son of God. He was all-knowing. He knew exactly why He was dying on the cross. He knew exactly what was required for sinful mankind to be redeemed. He knew exactly why His Father had to turn His back on His own Son.

Jesus knew all these things. And yet, as His broken body hung between earth and sky, this anguished cry tore through bruised and bleeding lips:

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

In your mind, you may already know the answers to your questions.

You know bodies are ravaged by disease because every living cell in this universe is bound by the curse of sin.

You know families splinter and shatter because of sinful choices.

You know until we get to Heaven, the affects of evil will continue to touch our lives, crashing down upon us like endless ocean waves upon the shore.

Your mind knows these things.

But your heart doesn’t. Your heart still cries out in pain. Your heart still wants to know why.

“My God, my God, why?”

I’m here to tell you, that’s okay. It’s okay to collapse on your knees in the dark and cry out your questions to God. It’s okay to let the tears fall and feel the heart break. It’s okay to grieve the tragedies of this sin-cursed world.

But then, then….

Don’t stay there.

After a time of questioning, a time of grieving, a time of cleansing tears, look to the cross. Look to what else Jesus said.

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

And herein lies the answer to peace:

Father, into Thy hands I commend my health.

Into Thy hands I commend my child.

Into Thy hands I commend my family.

Into Thy hands I commend this impossible situation.

Into Thy hands I commend my broken heart.

It’s okay to ask the questions, just as Jesus did. But at some point, our questions must turn into trust.

For it’s only in trusting our loving Heavenly Father that our hearts will rise above the grief, and we will find the peace and comfort we need to keep going in the face of tragedy.

“And he (Jesus) went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)

 

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