When Tragedy Strikes

By Shawn Thomas

Angleton, Texas

We have been reminded in recent days that God’s people are not immune to tragedy. Many of our friends in North Carolina and Tennessee have experienced that first-hand. Although we now live south of Houston, Texas, we recently experienced a personal tragedy in our home as well. About five weeks ago, my wife of 42 years, Cheryl, suffered a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side. She was sent to Jenny Sealy Hospital in Galveston, where she was treated for a week in the stroke unit there, before being sent to rehab for three weeks. This was a total shock to our family. I have been in ill health for years, but Cheryl has always been healthy. She walked three miles a day. She told the doctor that she was disappointed that her daily exercise routine did not forestall the stroke. He said, “Your walking saved your life. Most people with this kind of stroke are either dead or in a coma.” Her walking had not been wasted — a good lesson for many of us! Several of our friends and family members are now walking daily, just one of many good outcomes God has brought out of Cheryl’s stroke.

But what happens when tragedy strikes? Where do you turn? Cheryl & I are Christians: that is, we have admitted that we are sinners, and have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior. This means not only that we have an eternal home in heaven, but also that we have a real Lord who is with us in every situation. Being a Christian does not mean that you never face difficulties; rather it means that the God of the Universe walks with you through your difficulties. When tragedy strikes, genuine Christians turn to the Lord and learn to walk with Him more closely than ever before. The central teaching of Psalm 23 (both literally in the middle of the Psalm and its most important truth) is: “For You are with me.” When we turn to Him in our tragedies, we find He really IS with us. And I can say that amid these dark days, we have discovered this to be true.

One of the most important ways God walks with us when tragedy strikes is through His word. Growing up in a strong youth group at the First Baptist Church of Harrah, Oklahoma, Cheryl & I learned the importance of spending time in God’s word every day. “Your word is lamp to my feet, and a light to my path,” Psalm 119 says, and we both experienced the reality of that the past weeks. In a crisis like we were walking through, it has been difficult, if not impossible to have our regular, set aside time to read the Bible and pray. But we could still walk with God and let His word minister to us, through scriptures we have each memorized. I had just finished memorizing Psalm 118 the week Cheryl had her stroke, and every day, when I woke up early in the morning, on the couch in that dark hospital room, I could quote that Psalm, and every day, it drew me close to Him, with its opening words: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Having been led by His word into His presence, I would then spend some time in prayer, both for us and for others in our family and church family who are undergoing similar trials.

God’s word also helped carry Cheryl through the first days of this tragedy. Two verses ministered to her particularly:

— Isaiah 58:11 “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

This verse helped her to trust God’s leadership — and also encouraged her that He will give strength back to her bones as she recuperates!

— Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Cheryl has leaned on this verse every day, in times like the first session at rehab, when the therapist told her to stand and take a step — she had to face down a lot of fear that moment — but with God’s help she was indeed strong and courageous, and she took that first, brave, difficult step — the first of many!

In different places in the Bible, God calls His word a “lamp,” a “light,” a “fire,” a “daily bread,” “milk,” “meat” — and more. We have found it to be all of that for us at this time. But His word can only have the place in our lives that we give it. When your tragedy strikes — and someday it will, if it has not already — how much of His word will you have in your heart, ready to be used by His Spirit to minister to you in your time of need?

Also when tragedy strikes, God’s people shine through. Many of us in the Houston area experienced that in the aftermath of a recent hurricane, as groups like Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, and Samaritan’s Purse, arrived to help. Our friends in the Carolina mountains are receiving the same kind of ministry from God’s people now. The Psalmist said, “As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones, in whom is all my delight.” Other Christ followers become our closest family here on earth, and we have discovered that to be true when our tragedy strikes. We personally have had so many visits, calls, texts, Facebook messages, and cards (I taped all the cards Cheryl received on the cabinet in her room at rehab — every nurse that walked in said “WOW! You must really be loved!”) And she was, and is, loved by the people of God. Our church family, First Baptist of Angleton, has cared for us, brought us snacks and meals at the hospital, washed our clothes, mowed our grass while we were gone, put up grab bars in our bathroom, and now bringing meals to our home every day for six weeks … and on and on. We are hearing from Christians all over the country — and internationally — who are praying for us. It has been an immense comfort, and we felt the power of those prayers the first Sunday morning in rehab when Cheryl was able to squeeze my hand again for the first time since her stroke, and when she took her first little step with that left leg.  When tragedy strikes, God’s people come through.

God never promised us that tragedy would never strike us here on earth. Many of us act like it never will — but for all of us, at some time or another, it will. The question is, who and what will help you through the time of your trial? Do you know that God is walking with you because you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior? If not, that’s the first thing you need to do, right now. Then learn to walk with Him every day in His word and prayer. Memorize Psalms and other key scriptures so that His Spirit will be able to minister to you through His word in every situation. Make sure you are active in a local church family that will be there for you in your time of need — and make sure that you are there for them in their needs too!  Cheryl & I can testify that all of these things really do make a difference when tragedy strikes.

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Shawn Thomas has been a Southern Baptist pastor for almost 35 years, he currently serves as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Angleton, Texas. You can read more from Pastor Thomas Here.

You can read more good Christian news HERE at Blue Ridge Christian News.

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