The tragedies of life cause us to ask the question, “Where is God?” In the times of uncertainty and loss, we say things like “Well, it must be God’s plan” or “You’ll just have to trust God’s plan.” When we say these things we believe that God brought the misfortune upon us. Accepting the belief that God is behind our pain or perhaps his divine plan brought upon the tragedy is detrimental to our knowledge of God; therefore, it must be avoided. I want to encourage you during our most painful moments we have to look at the mission and heart of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

God’s love and will was put on display through the ministry of Jesus. Christ’s ministry was one of compassion, restoration, and redemption. In our brokenness, Jesus is the one who binds us up. While we grieve and mourn, Jesus is the one who comforts us. Christ takes our complete destruction, the moments where we feel there is nothing left, and he gives us a crown of beauty. In our moments of despair, he is the one who will clothe us with a garment of praise that will cause us to lift our voice in thanksgiving. Notice, Christ is not the one that caused the brokenness, despair, and captivity, but rather He is the one who comforts, gives strength, and releases us when those moments come!