What causes tragedies in our lives at all?

Peace and grace be multiplied in your life by our Lord, Jesus Christ! I believe the word I share with you in this column strengthens you and helps you to continue your journey to life everlasting.Yesterday we started a new topic, how we can turn tragedy into triumph. God´s desire is to show you how to live your life without worrying all the time and celebrate victory after victory, regardless of everything you´ve been or going through right now. Before we elaborate this topic let´s figure out what causes tragedies in our lives at all.Many people ask me: «If God is good, why does He allow so many tears, tragedies and sorrow in this world? If it´s not His merit then where does all the evil come from? Where does a tragedy come from? What is its source?» Honest and apparently innocent people that suffer want to know why and what are they suffering for. Consecrated, true believers that seek God with all their heart, and also suffer want to know why such things happen in their lives. People of all generations have asked these questions. There is one of many examples:  

«You hope of Israel, the Saviour of it in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night? Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can’t save? yet you, Yahweh, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; don’t leave us. Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay!» (Jeremiah 14:8-9,19).

 This is an essential question where and why the tragedies come from into a life of a man. Let us look up an answer in the Scriptures. The Scriptures give us a set of reasons why the Earth is filled with sufferings and tragedies today. Let´s touch the main ones.  

«Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.» (James 1:13-17).

 The verse above shows us where tragedies DO NOT come from. God is not the author of tragedies, He is the source of goodness and perfection. God never changes nor He has a shadow of change. He cannot be good natured today, then a tyrant tomorrow. Learn this important lesson: God is not the enemy of a man, because there is nothing evil in Him.God is not the source of our grieves, but the opposite, He is the answer and the solution of our problems. If we get closer to God, then regardless of what kind of situation we are going through in our life now – either a tragedy or a grief – we can always find help and strength in Him to have a victorious life abundantly in this wicked world. We´ll continue tomorrow.Be blessed!Rufus Adjiboje, pastor