What Was God Doing?

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You're listening to my morning Devotional podcast, episode 1378. Today's Evil is called what was God Doing? Hey there. We're the Alessi's a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time.

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That's why we've partnered with our friend Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast. Good morning everybody and happy Wednesday.

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Welcome back to my morning devotional podcast. My name is Rachelle Alessi, and like I mentioned earlier in the week, I was going to have my husband Chris come and finish out the week with me because we have a great theme. It is comfort and loss. And Chris, I was sharing with you a little bit about where this theme came from and the person who actually inspired this entire month, one of our listeners. And him and his wife have been Christians most of their lives and they went through tragedy and they had a loss and they lost their daughter. And he's been listening to our podcast and it really inspired us to do a week on this because we believe that there is things in the Bible that can help us get us through, but also just give us new life, give us new vision in the hardest times of our life. And Jesus came so he can comfort us. And there's nobody better to understand what we're going through than him. And so we want to use the word of God to bring some healing, some comfort. And I wanted to bring you in to help me finish this week because I really do believe you have so much more to say in this topic as well. And I did two episodes, but we're going to finish out the week together and I'm excited for what you have to say. Well, I appreciate you having me on. I heard some people don't like it, but we're hearing that a growing number of men are sitting and listening and receiving from you guys. And that's just beautiful. And even to know that this month is coming from a family in the midst of tragedy, there's just something so beautiful about that. And for anybody listening that has experienced a tragedy, you have our prayer meeting, have our condolences. We were grateful that you would still search and seek God in the midst of it all. And when you told me what we were thinking about talking about, I just remembered a sermon my dad preached a few months ago after some horrible tragedies that took place in Texas when there was a flood that took out many kids at a Christian camp and, you know, he preached this message. What was God doing on that day? And that's a question we find ourselves asking during tragedy a lot. What was God doing? You know, what was, did God allow this? Did God do this in the midst of tragedy? Those are like these very difficult questions. And we become very theological. We become very, almost as a, as a defense mechanism, we get very caught up in what was God doing? And we look at sermons that we've heard and books that we've read, and we almost piece together a God who just wasn't gracious on that day. And when my dad got to the end of that message, you know, he so perfectly laid the whole thing out. I would encourage people to go listen to it on our YouTube page if they wanted. But the reality is, is that God was mourning with us. Yeah. Is that that moment? Tragedy is not really a theological moment. It's. It's really one where God wants to be our comforter. It's one where God wants to be in the trenches with us and be closer than a brother. And where we should be theological is what can God do after tragedy? Because the reality is a lot of tragedy is man made. Not all, but a lot is, doesn't fall at the feet of those that experience it, but it is the result of a broken, broken world. And so we shouldn't be really asking what was God doing on that day? Why did he let it happen?

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All that, that's, that's where we have to realize that our God is a loving Father who mourns with us. Like you said, blessed are those who mourn because they will be comforted. We find that one of the reasons that Jesus is a better high priest is because he actually knows what it's like to feel this pain.

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We do not have a high priest that cannot connect with our pain.

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So God mourns with us. But theologically, what can God do after tragedy?

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And while the wound may never heal, God is able and capable to bring about a new joy. And that's where we have to get theological. I preached a message not to throw a bunch, but when the vision of life gets really, really hazy, get really clear on our vision of God. And for those of you that are experiencing tragedy, you need to know our God is a good God. He's an all powerful God. And while your most recent experience with tragedy might not make this seem palatable, he wants to move you into something that will bring you joy and peace. He wants to comfort you.

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He wants you to have a next and I believe he is good and we'll bring about that next. Amen.

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That is so beautiful. Thank you for encouraging us on that today. And we'll put that those sermons in the show notes in the show notes just so you guys can access them because we know that those have been a blessing to us and we only take five minutes, but you can go and hear some of these to be an extra encouragement to you and extra comfort in this time. And we are praying for you. So Chris, can you praise that? Absolutely.

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Lord, I just know confidently that whoever's hearing this episode, whoever is dealing with loss, you're already far more aware with where they're at and what they're going through than we could ever imagine. So I just pray like your word says, that you would be closer than a brother. Let your spirit be their helper and their comforter. Pray. I pray that you'd help them see they're next, that there is another mountaintop, that they will dance again and that you mourn with them in the meantime. As David said, Lord, even when we are in Hades, you are there.

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So I just pray that you would take those true words of scripture and show it to be true and faithful in their experience. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Amen. So there you have it. Your 5 minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with a friend, leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow. We pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.