How do we make sense of tragedy? How can God allow such things to happen in our world? When a head on collision leaves two people dead and two people critically injured on a road that many of us travel daily, how do we respond?
This tragedy has affected many people, but none more so than the family and friends of the deceased, our thoughts and prayers are with them. It’s been wonderful to see the outpouring of love and support, prayers and giving to the families. I spent Wednesday morning debriefing students at Wollondilly Anglican College affected by the incident, and will spend Friday afternoon praying with parents.
We grieve, we pray, we do what we can to support the families involved. We struggle to understand why. There isn’t always an explanation beyond the fact that this world is broken – spoiled by sin. When we hear of the death of a young person we get angry and upset – only old people should die. But the reality is all death is unnatural. Death and tragedy are not normal – they’re not how God made this good world. Death is the great enemy.
But in the face of tragedy and death we find hope in the words of Jesus:
‘Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’ – John 6:40
