There are times in our lives when things happen that we may never understand this side of heaven.  There are times in every Christian’s life when tragedies, circumstances and events happen that don’t make sense – when God doesn’t appear to make sense.  Often God doesn’t rush in to explain what He is doing and we must accept that He does and that the secret things in life belong to Him.  Many of us have learned of the tragic accident and death this past week of John Powell who was a dear friend, colleague and fellow pastor of our own new Pastor at Central.  Their families were close friends and they had worked together in ministry.  John was killed trying to help others in need on a major highway when an eighteen-wheeler hit him as he pushed others to safety.  Why did God allow him to be taken at the young age of thirty-eight with a wife and four small children?  It is only natural for us to struggle with this or similar circumstances that don’t make sense.

 
We will all face situations like this in life.  They may not be as tragic or involve death but we will face them.  So, how do we face them?  We will probably ask, “Why?”  Leaders always trust God even through the hurt, pain and loss cannot and should not be ignored.  Several years ago, James Dobson wrote a book titled, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense.”  I cannot tell you how valuable this book and the Scriptures shared in it meant to me during a tough time in my leadership career.  There is one thing that I took from this book that I want to share with you, a Christian leader.  In the book, Dr. Dobson makes the statement, “I will determine in advance that I will continue to trust God, even when He doesn’t seem to make sense.”  This became a part of my morning prayer every day and provided a perseverance that God knew what He was doing.  Yes, these kinds of times are difficult and we hurt with those who are hurting as we should and be there for them.  Isaiah 55 tells us that “His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.”  This may not be comforting at the time of the trial and only in time will it become lodged in our heart.