Difficult times and tragedy are part of life. Everyone's life! We are shaken to our very core. In difficult times we find out we find out who we really are, what we really believe in and how strong our faith in God really is. Tragedy is a defining moment in our lives. It's not the tragic event that's important in our lives. What's important is what we do after that tragedy happens in our lives. How we respond to what has happened. How we move on or how we don't move on with our lives. Where we look to for our direction and help. I looked for help and comfort in many wrong places.

 

I was asking all the wrong questions. I was asking "why"? Why did this happen in my life? Did I deserve this? What happens when you ask the wrong questions? You always get the wrong answers. I was getting all the wrong answers. I began to ask the right questions, and guess what? I began to get the right answers, answers that began to help me. Answers that I could understand. I asked, "now that this tragedy has happened in my life, what am I going to do about it?" Not, where does my tragedy come from. But where does my tragedy lead, how will it change my life? Who will I beome? How do I find God in all this brokeness? How do I bring Him closer to me?

 

Although we never really understand why bad and difficult times happen in our lives. God doesn't cause our misfortunes, tragedies and difficult times. He is our rock, he is the one who comes to us and raises us from the ashes of our tough times. He doesn't send us these difficulties. He is the one who gives us the strength to cope with our problems. In Psalm 34:17-18 it says, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

 

The question then is, when bad times enter your life, will you blame God? Will you become angry with Him and push Him away, or will you seek His help and comfort and draw Him closer?

 

I have found that trusting in and walking with God is the only way to walk through difficult times. I can't imagine going through what I have gone through by myself, without God at my side leading the way. And I can't imagine anyone else going through the tragedies and difficult times of their lives without God at their side and leading their way.

 

I have learned that life can still be good today, no matter what tragedy happened yesterday. Every breath we take is a gift from God. God loves us more than we can ever understand. He is where we go for help and counsel, not only in tough times, but in good times, too.

 

We all struggle with life issues. Life is tough! We're all still on our journeys, one day at a time. We don't always know what our journeys will bring our way. And we don't even know when our journey will end. I have decided to live my life to its fullest, no matter what comes my way. I hope you will, too!