Is there meaning in tragedy?

Answer

When tragedy strikes, it is common for people to ask, “What does this mean?” When we witness a disaster or mass murder, there is a natural feeling that what has happened should not have occurred. This innate sense of “wrongness” is a clue to the meaning in these events. When we seek to find meaning in tragedy, we must have the correct perspective. We need to approach the question in a manner that allows for a coherent answer, and this is only achievable through a Christian worldview. Because God imbues meaning into every moment and event in history, through Him we can start to discover meaning in suffering. The nature of this world lends itself to tragic events. Thankfully, God communicates with us, enabling us to find not just meaning, but also salvation and relief from the sufferings of the world.

When studying physical motion, it is crucial to comprehend perspective. Speed and acceleration are only significant in relation to another object; this object serves as the reference point. The way in which the reference point moves impacts our perception. The same principle applies to our understanding of right and wrong. For concepts of good, bad, right, wrong, or tragedy to hold meaning, they must be anchored to a reference point that remains constant and unmoving. The sole valid reference point for these matters is God. The very fact that we deem mass murder as wrong strongly reinforces the notion of God as the reference point for our understanding of good and evil. Without God, even the events we perceive as the most tragic lack significance. We must grasp the nature of this world and our connection to God to derive any meaning from the things we observe.

God infuses every moment and every event with meaning and provides us with the assurance that He comprehends what we are enduring. When Jesus established communion, He linked the past, present, and future. First Corinthians 11:26 states, “For as often as you eat tHis bread and drink the cup (the present), you proclaim the Lord’s death (the past) until He comes (the future).” God’s knowledge of all events means nothing is insignificant to Him. If God knows when a sparrow falls, He certainly knows when we face tragedy (Matthew 10:29-31). In fact, God assured us that we would face trouble in this world “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”, (John 16:33) and that He has experienced our struggles personally (Hebrews 2:14-18;Hebrews 4:15).

While we understand that God has sovereign control over all things, it is important to remember that God is not the source of tragedy. The vast majority of human suffering is caused by sin, all too often the sin of other people. For instance, a mass murder is the fault of the murderer disobeying the moral law of God (Exodus 20:13;Romans 1:18-21). When we look to find meaning in such an event, we have to understand why this world is the way it is. The hardship of this world was originally caused by mankind’s sin “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”, (Romans 5:12), which is always a matter of choice “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”, 1 Corinthians 10:13, God is perfectly capable of preventing tragedies before they occur, yet at times He chooses not to intervene. Although we may not comprehend the reasons, we understand that He is flawless, fair, and holy, and so is His plan. Moreover, the suffering we endure in this world serves three purposes: it drives us to seek God, it enhances our spiritual fortitude, and it intensifies our yearning for heaven as stated in Romans 8:18-25; James 1:2-3; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:7.

In the Garden of Eden, God communicated with Adam clearly and directly, rather than through abstract ideas. Today, God continues to communicate with us in the same manner. In many respects, this is the most significant lesson to be gleaned from any tragedy. Tragic occurrences reveal much of their significance through our responses to them. C.S. Lewis once remarked, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” This does not imply that God causes tragedies, but rather that He utilizes our responses to them as a means of communication. Tragic events serve as a reminder that we inhabit an imperfect and fallen world, yet there is a loving God who desires something greater for us than what the world can offer.