Saturday horror hit the lower mainland and has been described as the worst day in Vancouver. I am not sure how to definitively choose a worst day, but it is an act of tremendous pain and loss of life close to home on a people group we love. We might not ever know what drove someone to kill so many people, or the depth of pain that those who love people who died are in, or even the terror that this might create for a city….but we do know we are called to minister to hurting people.
How do we respond as Christians to pain like this? In fact that question could be expanded…how do we respond to people in authentic life suffering occurs, or even in our own lives when we are devastated in this fallen world. How do we live in a broken world with broken people in a way that honours God?
- Heartbroken and praying
We are to weep with those who weep…and this means our first and steady response to pain in the lives of others is to grieve with those who grieve. Romans 12:15 shares of the importance of not hiding our pain, or causing those who are in pain to push it down. We want to be a people who encourage authenticity and meet weeping with care and weeping.
I am heartbroken for those impacted by the tragedy on Saturday, and long to meet those severely impacted with a kind, gentle, grieving heart. Weeping in times of grief is not only appropriate, it is commanded (Romans 12:15).
We must never stay here, as this could lead to despair and self-emphasis, but we are called to start here. When you hear of a tragedy, experience one yourself, or have the privilege of ministering to someone in pain…authentic grief for the grossness of our world is the right place to start.
- Confident & Trusting
Through our tears we always have hope! We do not ever stay in the lowest level of grief, in fact the deeper our trust in God the more we can meet our grief authentically with faith…and experience joy. We believe that God is good all of the time. We believe that God is Sovereign and all wise, and as such, even when we don’t understand the why we can trust the WHO.
The deeper we go in our faith the more this will be a pathway we can confidently travel in the midst of confusion. It is helpful if we are in pain to be guided by some who have travelled before us like a Joni Tada, and in the power of the Spirit, to know we can trust God. His plan is always right and in His presence we can experience a peace that transcends the surface pain we are suffering through and give us a joy that can be found only in Jesus.
Those who know God who have experienced loss this Saturday (and all who love them) can know for certain that God will not waste their pain, and they are more valuable than sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31).
This is a hard place to get to if you have not been working on your faith before the tragedy, but a place that will keep you strong and stable through any storm (Matthew 7:21-29). The more authentic you can be in your faith the more authentic you can be in your experience of joy through any suffering!
- Loving and Hoping
We should actively engage in the ministry of love to hurting people. This includes listening to them as they grieve, loving them practically (meals, driving, etc.) and pointing them to the love of God and His Sovereignty (gently and graciously in time).
True love that follows Jesus is active and includes engagement with people in our sphere of influence with love. Maybe as simple as an email, or as profound as an open heart and house. A hug can change the trajectory of a grieving person's day!
Responding to pain around us must be more than an emotion and trusting in God, it must also when possible include acts of kindness.
I love how we do this as a church family both with programs and people. May our hearts always feel in the fellowship of suffering, point to God in faith, and walk the journey with people in love as they allow.
If you know people responding to tragedy, feel, deepen fellowship with God, act and lastly (and maybe most importantly).
- Living For Glory
This carries with it the two passions of a Christian, we live in light of eternity and we passionately pursue God’s glory in every situation!
This allows us to keep reality in view and not be blinded by the temporary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The more heavenly minded we are the more earthly good we will be (Colossians 3:1-3).
It is also a reminder that pain is a joyful experience for us when we consider (James 1) that it helps to purify us for eternity. That it is a tool that God gives us to increase our intimacy with Him, and impact for Him (Romans 5:1-11).
The more our passion is for God and His glory and less for self and our comfort the more healthy we will become in responding to our own pain and helping others in their pain. Suffering becomes purposeful when in it and through it we point to God and His sufficient love and care, and our hope in His plan and power.
I hate that Saturday happened in our city. I hate that my parents are suffering with dementia and cancer. I hate that Rick Sayers died. And yet, in the midst of all of these…and way more…I believe that God is REAL and RELEVANT and Personal, so I will rejoice in faith and deepen my walk with Him so that I can comfort and call others in their pain to trust in Him. GO DEEP!
I am not sure that Saturday was the worst day in Vancouver history, but I am sure that no matter what we go through, or are going through we can trust God and know that He will never waste our pain. And I know that Saturday was a dark day as we grieve with those who are suffering so deeply!
Trusting and weeping with hope and tender care, longing for eternity,
Pastor Rob