When In Doubt

I recently learned of two newborn babies who died, mere days and weeks after being born. Having a baby of my own, learning of such tragedies breaks my heart. I look at my sweet baby boy and hug him a little tighter, thankful for the gift of a healthy baby.

But I can’t help but ask, “Why, Lord? Why is there so much sorrow and grief and
suffering in this world? Why is life filled with such heavy things as babies dying?â€

As I mulled over these things, the Lord reminded me of Romans 8, a passage that spoke comfort to my own heart a few years ago when I walked through my own season of heartache. This passage describes our world as being “subjected to futility†and being in bondage (verses 20-21). You see, the world as we know it now is not the way God originally created it to be.

When God created the world, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed†(Genesis 1:31). But when humans went their own way against God, everything changed. Humanity became sinful, and the world groaned under the curse of their sin.

But take hope! It won’t always be this way. Revelation 21:3-5 declares that the day will come when once again, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more grief and pain. No more sin. We can be sure of this hope because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead—defeating sin, death, disease, and sickness once and for all, and making a way for everyone who puts their trust in Him to be forgiven. When Jesus returns, every wrong will be made right.

However, we’re not there yet. We still live in this world that is marked by the heartache of the effects of sin. Perhaps you have personally experienced the great sorrow of losing someone you love dearly. Suffering in this life is real. We cannot deny it. But as we suffer, we can cling to the hope of what is yet to come: one day, God will make all things right. • Angela Stanley

• Where do you see brokenness? How can God’s promise to make all things new give you hope?

• Do you feel like you can talk to God about the sorrows you experience? God sees all the brokenness of His creation, and He is filled with compassion for us. Through His death and resurrection, He made the way for us to come to Him. He invites us to process the hurt, grieve the wrongness with Him, and receive His peace (Romans 15:13).

Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.†He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.†Revelation 21:5 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Matt.14.22-Matt.14.36|Mark.9.14-Mark.9.29|John.20.24-John.20.29