Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

Whatever you are exposed to will influence the way that you think.  The people you are around will influence you.  No matter what Hollywood and business executives may claim, they know and their advertising proves that the things you watch and listen to will effect your decisions.  This is part of the human reality we must understand.  It is very important that you are careful and thoughtful about what and even who you are exposed to—especially in the case where you would be even more vulnerable when facing a tragedy…

When you have unexpected things come into your life, you may not know which way to turn.  You will have various emotional responses to what has happened.  You will need help and encouragement in some way.  While hopefully there will people around you willing to truly help, some will get involved and not really help.  Sincerity is important, but doing what is right is just as important, if not moreso.  You may not have a broad enough perspective when facing tragedy or some level of difficulty, so it is even more important to be prepared for such a situation and, when facing these problems, to surround yourself with true friends and people proven to have true wisdom (check out the 05-15-08 Blog “True Friendship”).

I believe the material on this website can be a great influence to help guide you and give you wisdom to prevail through tragedy and difficulty.  There is one influence you should have in your life greater than any—that is the Truth of the Word of God.  Our Creator knows us and knows His Creation.  He is the best One suited to advise us.  His Word is what should be our greatest influence.  It cannot be if we do not read it and apply its truth to our lives.  It will guide you through the changing emotions of your daily life and guard you in the midst of difficulty (c.f. Psalm 119:105).

Be a student of God’s Word.  Check out the Gospel Tab above and search through the Bible link there for any passage of Scripture or subject you wish.  Look over the other blogs and things on this website.  If you have scientific and philosophical questions, follow this link to AIG (Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org/).  Contact me with any questions through the contact page.  Consider again the following verse illustrating what I am saying here:

Proverbs 4:23:  “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

What and who will you allow to influence you?

I hesitated to even write this article, yet events of this day and recent reminders lead me to again address an important aspect of dealing with Tragedy.  By definition, there is nothing funny about a tragedy.  A tragedy is an event that should not have happened or that takes circumstances outside of what they normally would or should be.  If you have or gain a greater perspective on any Tragedy (c.f. my 04-26-08 Blog “PERSPECTIVE” or even the 08-06-08 Blog “Take a Vacation”), you will be better adjusted to properly deal with what has happened and even grow through it (You may also want to reference the 07-30-08 Blog “Humor Me”).  Life is what it is and we must come to accept it, live within it and even laugh at appropriate things.  Humor is one of those things that helps us cope and brings perspective.

One problem with much modern humor is that it has come to focus on things that are base or even vulgar.  Nothing is considered sacred and there are attempts to bring comedy to situations and even mock what should be considered sacred and off limits.  In fact, if there were not limits to things, we would have complete chaos.  It is by the limits that God has established that we are even able to define things, do research and discovery, and even laugh at situations.  Granted, people try to put artificial limits on situations or some even try to abandon any limitations.  Both extremes must be avoided as we grow and learn the true limitations and freedoms that God has established (you may even want to check out my “To Be Free” poem [tabbed above] there).

Learn to laugh in life and realize the limitations we have as human beings.  There is one who is Infinite in Power and only limited by His Holy Nature.  The LORD loves us and wants us to come to know Him in the Person of Jesus Christ (the one we are celebrating here in the Christmas season who entered the human family and gave His Holy life to pay for our sins).  This same LORD Jesus Christ will come again and He will even laugh at how futile people’s efforts are to deny and fight against Him:

Psalm 2:4:  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision.

Learn to laugh in life and learn to love the Savior who demonstrated His Love to us.  That is the only way to have Peace and Joy and be able to laugh when appropriate, despite the tragedies in the world.

Today is the day after Thanksgiving and many are busy looking for good shopping deals.  It seems that this year, more than any I can remember, the Thanksgiving Holiday was truncated or even lost through a general celebration of a Holiday season.  Of course, much of this is driven by the big retailers and the media.  Christmas items were being promoted, even before the end of October.  This year, there has been such an economic atmosphere that many more are thinking about the importance (or lack thereof) of material things in their life.  When you think about it, there is a lot more to be thankful for than the material possessions you may have…

I want to challenge you as you read to consider the spiritual things that you SHOULD be thankful for.  In fact, if you come to a point to have less material things, such as after a tragedy, you will be more inclined to consider the spiritual blessings.  This is certainly one of the blessings that can come from tragedy, if you are thinking clearly about what is actually eternal, and not merely temporal (those things we often value most).  To consider further what I am saying, think on the following verses:

2 Corinthians 4:15-18:

15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

God allows things to happen in this life (even Tragedy) to allow us to experience His Grace, share this grace with others, and help us be more thankful–especially for the spiritual and eternal things.  It is interesting, that when we get things in this right order, we will also be more thankful for the material things in life, and even more responsible with them.

Friend, are you thankful?  If so, to what or Whom are you thankful?  You cannot merely “thank your lucky stars” or some lifeless, inanimate object, or even some finite source.  If you do, you are just living your life in vain.  You must be thankful for and to the Source of all good.  Every good and perfect gift ultimately comes from God, no matter how many hands of men have been involved (see James 1:17).  If you do not know the LORD, then you must seek to know your Creator, who made Himself known to us in the historical Person of Jesus Christ.  Please look at the Gospel tab above.  Study Who this true Person of Jesus Christ is.  Take a look at the other things on this website (even the Thanksgiving Poem recently written).  Learn to be thankful, whether things are good, bad, or even ugly with tragedy.  You will find that your life will be much better if you understand these things and are in tune with your Creator.

The way that we normally use the word “hope” is more like saying, “I wish.”  Hope is having a desire that things will change or come to pass as you imagine.  When your hope is built upon faith and your faith is founded upon the right object (see my previous Blog), then your hope is more than a wish; it is a certainty.

The way that the Bible uses hope is in this sense of being a certainty.  If God says something will happen or gives us a promise to claim, then it is something we can count on, because God cannot lie.  Consider the following verse (Hebrews 6:18):

“that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. ”

Friend, is your hope in the stock market?  I trust not, for it surely has failed you lately.  Is your hope in political leaders?  They will surely let you down.  Is your hope in family and friends?  They will not always be there as they should or always live up to your expectations.  The only sure hope is the hope that you can have in faith, and that faith that is founded upon the Truth in the Word of God.  Our only hope is trusting in the sacrifice and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ.

When problems come or tragedy strikes, “Hope in Faith” and “Hope in God” (see Psalm 42).  Do a study on the word “hope” in Scripture.  Consider that the hope spoken of in Hebrews 6:18 (above) is the same hope that is an “anchor of the soul” (v. 19), no matter what you are facing.

Tragedy is not something for which you normally plan–you just don’t see it coming.  Tragedy is an unexpected event or misfortune.  While you can plan for some potential tragedy that could occur (even helping prevent it from occurring), you cannot control every aspect of life.  When the unexpected circumstances of life bring tragedy, you are faced with a choice.  You can react and blame others, turn inward and become withdrawn and depressed, or you can act according to something else you cannot see.  You can act according to Faith…

Faith is not seen, otherwise it would be sight.  Faith is trusting in something beyond yourself and your circumstances.  It is not merely a feeling or something nebulous.  True faith always has an object.  We each believe in things that we cannot physically see.  We know there is wind, because we see the effects of the wind.  We know there are physical organs in our bodies, yet we normally do not see them working.  We know there is such a thing as love, as it is manifest in actions and directed towards some object.  Though faith always has an object, faith is not able to be seen.

So, what does faith have to do with tragedy?  Faith enables you to gain perspective.  Faith helps you look beyond your circumstances and feelings.  Faith will get you through whatever Tragedy you face, that is, if it is the right kind of faith.

What is the object of your faith?   I suggest that you look to learn through any tragedy of your own and even through the tragedy that others have faced.  Learn to trust in your Creator and what He has revealed to be true through His Creation.  Learn to trust His involvement in history and the revelation He has given in the Bible.  Learn to trust in the Person of Jesus Christ.

I trust that you will learn to have faith through any tragedy and not be swayed by the winds of opinion.  Please let me know if I can be of any help there and keep checking on this website for more updates and lessons to learn that you can practically apply to your own life.  My contact information is below.