Spirituality Column #813

June 14, 2022

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

What Shall We Learn?

By Bob Walters

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault.” James 1:5

In darkest circumstances, sometimes the essential thing we lack is not wisdom, but the comfort of an answer that explains, eases, vindicates, affords closure, or justifies hope to go on. 

Sometimes the essential thing we lack is the right question.

Sometimes a situation is so awful that questions, answers, and explanations offer only superfluous misdirection.  Our brain, heart, emotion, and soul are wadded in a knot so tight as to choke off the merest notion of comfort, leaving an insulting and unsettled void.  Where do we find answers when there are no answers?  When even a good question eludes our grasp?  When “Why?” echoes emptily and purposelessly in the vacant, dreadful canyon of despair that brooks no comfort and offers no resolution.

What could be that bad? Our dear friends have a son whose wife exploded into a terrifying, never-before-seen rage and committed violent suicide.  That is that bad.

We all find ourselves seeking answers and wisdom that could explain the unimaginable.

But here we are.  Many answers will remain unknown.  Wisdom, we pray, will creep into the tattered edges of tragedy.  Hope and comfort will eventually arrive, as we allow it.  Life will go forward in halting steps, stubbornly, as we pursue it. Yet … where shall we go for help?

Is the Bible sufficient?  No … the Bible is wonderful and helpful, but only the abiding person of Jesus Christ can shine hopeful light into these darkest nights of despair; the Bible is a flashlight, but Jesus is the actual light.  Our own wisdom will never suffice.  Be aware of that.

The Bible tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always.”  To not be anxious because “the God who transcends all understanding is guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). It says the “God of all comfort” comforts us in our troubles so we may comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).  In Christ, the Bible says, we are “being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).  Let’s be encouraged, and meditate on that. 

These verses are from Paul, who was very wise.  In each of his 13 New Testament letters, he posts the greeting, “grace and peace.” Never think that line is a perfunctory “Hello.”  Jesus Christ is grace; that’s who He is.  Jesus Christ provides peace; that’s what He does. Paul is expressing the person and purpose of Christ: grace and peace.  Let’s remember that.

Christians have many problems with suicide, the biggest being we don’t know what to think regarding the soul’s redemption.  I’m leaving that one to God.  Jesus said he did not come to condemn (John 3:17), but to bring hope; to heal, not to harm.  Let’s cleave to that.

By my count there are six examples of suicide in the Bible; Judas, who famously hung himself (Matthew 27:5), and five others (King Saul, Abimelech, Samson, Ahithophel, and Zimri).  Each passage notes only that “they died” … without judgment.  Let’s consider that.

As a palliative to ourselves, we might explain that suicide bespeaks madness, and therefore absolves responsibility.  That makes some sense, but I am as convinced demons exist as I am convinced angels exist … and angels don’t always win.  This we are wise to learn.

The “flashlight” I flip on here to see Jesus is again Paul, in Romans 8:34-35: “Who is the one who condemns?...Christ Jesus is interceding for us … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  This gives me peace and belonging.

I am praying for Godly wisdom to help my friends, and that this tragedy may drive them closer to the bosom of Jesus now … and to each other in their family.  And I pray it boldly.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) was able to share these thoughts on a beautiful, intimate day with our friends on the Straits of Mackinac, where Hannah’s ashes were scattered.