"Tragedy can present an incredible opportunity for the best parts of our humanity to emerge."

 

A thought by Daniel Fusco, from his book, Crazy Happy (p. 53). The Crown Publishing Group, Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

It really can.

Daniel says, "If you think about it, the greatest tragedy in history was the cross of Jesus Christ. And God also leveraged Jesus’s finished work on the cross to become the greatest triumph in history.

"Although the disciples wept at the death of Jesus, their joy was unspeakable at his resurrection. But for the disciples, their joy hinged on accepting the fact that Jesus was who he said he was when he appeared to them after his resurrection."

He goes on, "Some of us are still living in the tragedies we’ve experienced and are unwilling to receive the comfort of Jesus. I lived that way for a long time. When my mother passed away, I was in that spot. I didn’t understand, and her death felt wrong in every possible way. But what I didn’t realize was that God was seeking to do a restorative and resurrecting work in my life. And although at that time I was unwilling because I was still so hurt, it was the beginning of incredible redemption. I believe that God wants to do the same with you.

Jesus is the Great Physician, and a good doctor doesn’t impose himself on you. He offers his treatment plan, and as the patient, you can either accept it or reject it and go in a different direction."

He continues, "See, God doesn’t change your tragedy; he changes you through the tragedy. He doesn’t make it go away; he redeems it. I remember when my mother passed away, someone said, 'Daniel, listen, time heals all wounds.' But I’ve learned that, unfortunately, time doesn’t heal all wounds. Time can make some wounds almost start to feel normal, but only Jesus truly heals wounds."

Daniel then says, "When Jesus heals, he doesn’t undo what’s been done to us. He takes the wrongs and the pain we’ve experienced, and he works in his infinite wisdom to comfort us. And when we are receptive to his work in the midst of our tragedies, through his perfect care and wisdom, our scars become testimonies of God’s faithfulness. And those testimonies are a means for us to comfort others, because we’ve walked the very path they’re on."

He later says, "Our empathy lacks substance unless we’ve walked through suffering ourselves with Jesus, unless we have mourned and been comforted by the Lord."

And that is so true, isn't it?

Yes, yes!