When we hear about tragic events—natural disasters, violent crimes, or large-scale crises—it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. As Christians, we must learn to be honest about our feelings, then take our emotions to God and meditate on the comfort and hope we find in Scripture.
1. Be Honest About Your Emotions
The first step is acknowledging what we are feeling. Whether it’s grief, anger, fear, or helplessness, ignoring these emotions won’t make them disappear. Processing our emotions with a trusted friend, pastor, or family member can be helpful, reminding us that we’re not alone in our struggles and helping us get to the root of our emotions. Seeking the root of our emotions is important because when we know what emotions we are feeling at our core (fear, anger, grief, etc.), we can see what Scripture has to say about each response and apply the balm of God’s word to our wounds.
2. Apply Scripture to Your Emotions
God’s Word speaks to every human experience, including the emotions stirred by tragic news. You can look in a concordance or search online for passages of the Bible that speak to issues.
For example, if fear is the root of your emotions—perhaps for loved ones in a disaster zone—meditating on biblical truths can bring comfort:
- God has a plan for those affected (Jeremiah 29:11).
- His plan is ultimately for good, even when we don’t understand it (Romans 8:28). If we were as righteous as God and knew everything he knows, we would make the same plan.
- God is sovereign, infinitely wise, and deeply loves His children (John 17:22-26).
By meditating on these truths, we move truths from our heads (intellectual knowledge) to our hearts (core beliefs), and we can see tragic and disastrous events in light of God’s truth. Meditating on passages like the ones above teaches us to trust that God is in control, even amid chaos. Our fear or sorrow does not disappear instantly, but it is placed in the hands of our good and sovereign Father.
3. Seek Ways to Help
We should consider practical ways to help if we feel compelled to act. This might include joining a prayer group, giving financially to a trustworthy organization, or reaching out personally to those affected and offering help. While we can’t solve every crisis, we are best equipped to help others and show God’s love to hurting people when we are grounded and rooted in who God is and what he says in his word. Small acts out of faith and trust in God can bring real encouragement and reflect God’s love to believers and unbelievers in difficult times (John 13:24).
When we respond to tragic news through faith rather than fear, we glorify God and point others to our unshakable hope in Christ.
Chew on This: What is a Bible verse you can memorize that will help you take refuge in God when tragedy happens?
