Hope When Your World Turns Upside Down

Tragedy, Trauma and Crisis are some of the words used when suddenly your world is turned upside down. Our headlines are filled with the harsh realities of our world that hit us broadside and bring us to our knees. In my community, a young Mom struggling with severe post partum depression tragically took her life. A little girl was struck by a truck when crossing the street and random acts of violence kill innocent bystanders. How do you respond when the unimaginable or unforseen happens?

People sometimes question God’s goodness when tragedy strikes. The Bible doesn’t say life will be easy and carefree. The fact is we live in a broken world and He does allow bad circumstances to happen. But God’s word assures us that He is always good and a loving Father who will never leave us alone in our time of desparation.

I have learned through the various “storms” of my life that God is in control.  Having HOPE, means all is not lost….life will go on and it will be okay – eventually maybe different and not necessarily easy but Okay.  When an anchor is working it cannot be seen. God is always at work and my trust in Him keeps me from crashing or mentally and spiritually drifting away. Christ goes before the Father on my behalf,  and has given me peace, strength and discernment to deal with the situation. One of my favorite Bible stories is when Jesus calmed the sea and it is retold in three of the four gospels .

Mark 4:37–41 (ESV)
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

They were professional fishermen yet scared to death because of the suddeness and verocity of the storm. They didn’t understand that Jesus was the Master of the sea. They cried, “Jesus don’t you care?” Have you thought that too?

Dr Charles Ryrie states, “God reveals Himself in those storms. Unmerited tragedy helps us see God, which is unmerited grace.” Being able to evaluate things through the eyes of faith to see what is truly important builds character.

Romans 5:2–5 (ESV)
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

In Genesis 16 God was called by a new Name, “El Roi”. The God who sees, who cares and intervenes. Sometimes our hearts are broken and we just can’t understand what God is doing. He asks that we hold on tight to truth and trust Him.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

My hope is in the Creator and Sustainor of heaven and earth. How big is your anchor?