Rockwall, TX (August 15, 2025) – Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.
That old saying predicted bad weather in the days before reliable forecasting. Whereas blue skies suggested—rightly or wrongly—that all is clear ahead.
Faith in God can rely on faulty assumptions also. When all is well with us, we feel blessed from above. When things go wrong, we may panic or at least pause to wonder why. When things go very, very wrong, our faith can become paralyzed.
At the dawn of the 21st century, a Tuesday morning in mid-September began beautifully in New York City—until everything changed. Even now, most adult Americans recall where we were and what we were doing when the attacks began. We left work or school early, not knowing what else the day might bring. By evening we were traumatized by the overwhelming flood of horrific news.
We more easily accept the reality of suffering that occurs far from our shores. We wince and shake our head over the images of war, famine, and persecution; we might send support. Closer-to-home calamities further tax our emotions; we might lose some sleep. But it’s altogether different when we are the ones attacked, if our health or home or loved one is taken away. Such personal sorrows can rattle the very foundation of our faith.
When God seems to go missing, we’ll have more questions than answers. Where was he when we needed him? Why did he allow something so awful? Grief that follows loss is compounded by the grief of feeling abandoned by God. Like one who is wounded by a friend, we may strike back in anger or else respond with the silent treatment that leads to estrangement from God.
In the weeks following 9-11, churches experienced a notable rise in attendance. People needed comfort and encouragement. But pain demands ready answers, and this bump in numbers did not last. While desperation can drive us toward God, disappointment in him can derail the journey. Solid faith requires the nurture of patience and endurance, also known as longsuffering (Colossians 1:11*).
Much of The Book of Psalms includes the prayers and laments of David, who, of all the kings of Israel, seemed to have God’s up-close and ever-present protection. When David faced an enemy, God sent encouragement and help. If a battle went badly, God provided explanation and direction. Even when David sinned, God’s mercy saved him from ruin. But all of these troubles kept David earnestly—sometimes desperately—seeking God.
In his psalms, David asks those questions we ask. By the Holy Spirit, he finds the way back to the peace and comfort of God. David’s psalms serve as a balm for us, too. Through them, we’ll realize the Lord “is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18); we’ll be encouraged to believe again that we will “look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 27:13).
Sorrow is a normal part of life, though many people experience it too soon or in terrible ways. The apostle Paul wrote, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Suffering can produce endurance that results in hope (Romans 5:3, 4). Our hope in eternal life is the gospel’s great assurance.
Though tragedies can suddenly take away our earthly treasures, Jesus says of his sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).
*ESV Bible
By Patti Richter. Patti writes and edits Christian faith articles and has co-authored Signs of His Presence: Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering (March 2019). Read more of her essays at blueribbonnews.com/category/faith.
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