You'd have to live under a rock to never hear heartbreaking news. For years, I have avoided watching the news on TV, and I don't have any news apps on my phone because it's just so hard to hear all the horrible things that go on in this world.
I've often heard this question, and maybe you've asked it yourself, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I think the first thing we have to look at is the phrase, good people. The Bible tells us that none of us are deserving of good on our own- we were born into sin (Ephesians 2:3). That question in and of itself just isn't a fair question.
A different question that I feel is more worthy of asking is, "Why do bad things happen to believers?" That's a question I don't think I'll ever be able to fully answer. Romans 3:22-26 says, "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."
It's also worth noting that people do not go to Hell for their sin- Jesus already paid for that. Rather, people who reject believing in Jesus go to Hell. It's not God's will that anyone would go there- it's His desire that every single human being ever created and ever will be created go to Heaven and be with God forever (2 Peter 3:9).
Now that these truths are established, what do we, as believers in Jesus, do with heartbreaking news? How do we overcome the shock and awe of the degree of evil in this world every time there's a school shooting, or a rape, or a kidnapping?
These are really tough questions. I've been crying, groaning, and praying as I'm writing this- just this week there was a school shooting at a Christian elementary school. It hits so close to home with me as a mama to a precious little girl. Those parents who lost their children to that senseless violent act woke up the next morning (that's to say they even got sleep that night) to a totally different life. Oh, Jesus, I just cannot imagine.
I once heard a counselor say this in regards to the loss of loved ones: The loss of a parent is the loss of your past. The loss of your spouse is a loss of the present. And, the loss of a child is the loss of your future. While I do not believe it's profitable to compare pain, to look into the future and see it so differently because your child is not in it earthside is inconceivably deep, deep pain.
The first response to heartbreaking news is to allow ourselves to feel the emotions. Trying to suppress emotions only makes things harder. Then, cry out to the Lord. Even if it isn't words (Romans 8:26-28), we need to immediately run to our Heavenly Father when we hear hard news. The Holy Spirit is right there ready and willing to comfort us, give us guidance on what to do or say, and ultimately, He wants to be there to embrace us.
John 14:26 says this of the Holy Spirit, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
I'm not a licensed counselor, but in the hard events of life where we have so many questions, I have found those two things to be answers: Feel the emotions and cry out to the Lord.
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