is necessary for us to know about God and salvation is clearly revealed in Holy Scripture.
If something bad happens to me, is God punishing me for my sin?
There is no promise that you will always directly see or understand the good that comes out of particular trials and tribulations.
When something bad happens to you, it is not necessarily related to a particular sin that you have committed. However, it is always because we live in a sinful and broken world (Genesis 2–3). In this world, our bodies betray us, and we get sick and die. In this broken world, other people also betray us and cause us a great deal of problems and misfortune. Often times, we endure personal agony because of the sinful choices that we ourselves make (see Psalm 51). And at times, we are spiritually attacked by the devil and his demons, who like to harass people and cause misery and misfortune (see Job).
Father who is watching over you. In times of tragedy, we see God’s mercy in action. God’s mercy revealed to humanity is most clearly seen in the person of Jesus Christ who reminds us that we are reconciled to our heavenly Father and that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:38–39). The Rev. Ross Johnson is director of LCMS Disaster Response.
What do I do when I feel like my life is falling apart? 1. Prayer is always good when you feel overwhelmed by the world. 2. Attend the Divine Service where you receive the ongoing forgiveness of sins and you are reminded that Christ is bodily present with you in a special way. 3. Consider talking to your pastor to get wise Christian advice when you are overwhelmed. 4. Consider talking to a pastor for private confession and absolution (see 1 John 1:9). 5. Use your suffering as a reminder that you live in a broken world and that Christ promises to suffer right along with you. 6. Place your hope in Christ and the resurrection and not in this world or in sinful people who will disappoint you.
Can anything good come out of bad things? God often allows amazing things to come out of tragic situations (see Gen. 50: 15–21). Job was eventually blessed after his time of tragedy (Job 42:10). However, there is no promise that you will always directly see or understand the good that comes out of particular trials and tribulations. In times of tragedy, it is important to trust in God’s nature, that He is a loving and caring heavenly
Journal of Lutheran Mission | The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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