God Never Leans Over The Balcony of Heaven and Gasps {My Thoughts on Sandy Hook}

It is always my intention and goal with this blog to write posts that are light-hearted, fun to read, and (dare I say it?) injected with a bit of melodramatic humor.

I try very hard to steer clear of political discussions because it is my hope that my blog posts will brighten your day; not cause more distress and angst in an already over-populated world of distress and angst.

But today, I just can't bring myself to be so light-hearted.  Because my heart is heavy.

Heavy over what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown Connecticut on Friday.

And because of that, I am breaking from my normal protocol of blog content to share a few thoughts over this tragedy with you today.


Thought #1:
Any time there is a tragedy of this magnitude, the questions are always raised....  Where was God?  Why didn't He stop this from happening?  If He's a God of love, why does He allow this stuff to happen?

And all of those are valid questions when something so horrible and mind-numbing like Sandy Hook take place.  So I never ever judge people for asking them.

And in case you are wondering.  Here is my answer to these very serious questions:

We live in a fallen world.

It was never God's intention to have evil in the world he created.  Everything He created was "good."

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31a

But man wasn't satisfied with all he had been given, and through temptation allowed evil to enter the world.

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:6

So you see, because man was given a free will, to choose to obey God or disobey God, it was not GOD who allowed this to happen, it was fallen man living in a fallen world who allowed it to happen.


Thought #2:
As soon as the reports rolled in about this horrendous shooting, I saw lots of tweets about how these precious lives were cut short.  How they were robbed of the chance to grow up, live their lives, have children of their own.  Even the President expressed this in his address to the nation on Friday:

The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. 

And just like any parent out there, this thought brings me grief more than any other.  Then the thought hit me...

What's the difference between these precious children that lived 6 and 7 years of their lives and those that were not even allowed the chance to live 6 and 7 years outside of their mother's wombs?

Now, I know this is an incredibly touchy subject, but stop and think about it.  Don't babies that are aborted also have their "entire lives ahead of them?"  Aren't they also robbed of the chance to grow up and live their lives?

Seriously, how is that any less tragic?  Does one have to take their first breath in order for their death to be considered grievous?

Lord help us, if we only apply these sentiments to dear children who have had a chance to live and not to those who truly didn't.


Thought #3:
I've also have heard a lot of talk about how God wasn't at Sandy Hook Elementary because he's been pushed out of schools. 

And although I understand what people mean by this statement and agree that it is a travesty that God has been shunned in our public schools, I completely disagree with the thought that God was not there.  

God is everywhere at all times.  He never leans over the balcony of heaven and gasps.  He's not surprised or taken off guard over man's evil antics.  There is nowhere He does not see and there is not anywhere man can flee from him... including public schools in America.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10

God was there.  And as one person simply posted on Facebook the day of the tragedy... 

"Jesus wept." John 11:35


Thought #4:
If God is not surprised, then why are we?  Why do we expect peace in a fallen world filled with evil?

Jesus himself said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

And why did He say this to His disciples? "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace." John 16:33a

If we seek peace in the world, we will be sorely disappointed.  Our peace can only come from God alone.  This world is a fallen world and fallen man that lives in it is going to do evil things.

But those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (believing that He is the Son of God and that His death has put them back in right standing with God and that His resurrection gives them new life in Him) and given their lives to Him (no longer calling the shots in their lives, but giving all control to Him, desiring to obey God and stop disobeying Him as their fallen natures would want them to do) to those people... this fallen world is not their home.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phillipians 3:20 

Living in a fallen world is what makes heaven so heavenly! 

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." 2 Peter 3:13-14


Thought #5:
My last thought over this tragedy that has rolled around in my head over and over this weekend, and the one that I will leave you to ponder as well, is this: What would happen if mothers from all over our country stormed Washington and demanded change?

These are our babies dying.  These are our children's innocence that is being taken from them.  These are our kids that we don't feel safe leaving at schools anymore.

I, for one, am fed up with our government.  They can't seem to get anything done that's worth doing.  All they do is bicker and fight and tack on pork barrel spending that hold up other laws from passing (even disaster money for Hurricane Sandy victims! Have you heard about that?)  They can't even get their act together to work out something for the looming "fiscal cliff" we're all about to go over.

If the government can't do their job, they shouldn't get paid.   Every one else has to live by this rule, so why don't they?

I don't know about you, but THIS MAMA IS FED UP.

I think it's time for government reform.  And moms everywhere should demand it.


And with that final thought, I'm done.  For now.

Posted in: Faith