On Thursday afternoon I was returning home from a meeting. I noticed as I was making my way across Lawerence Avenue that the police car following me had just turned on its siren. Naturally, I looked at my speedometer… but this time I was ok ;) With sirens blaring, the grey and white vehicle sped past me causing the cars ahead to pull over to the side.

As I turned into my usually quiet residential neighbourhood, there were a number of police cars zipping up and down the street, clearly in search of something or someone.

I got out of my car, opened the front door and locked it behind me. I let the dog out and sat in the back yard while the dog sniffed around and did her business, all the while a symphony of sirens played in the background.

Luna and I went back inside and within minutes I heard the raised voice of a male, followed by a number of gunshots from the ravine that our house backs onto.
There was no doubt in my mind that they were gunshots. I locked the back door and resisted looking out the window. I went to pick up my phone to call 911 when a message popped up on my phone about the incident. I scrolled to the Neighbourhood Facebook page and sure enough the information was flowing steadily.

Apparently a young man in his early 20’s was on my very street, walking by my house, scant moments before I turned into my driveway. He was carrying a rifle and presumably heading toward the school at the top of my street.

The police sirens continued to blare joined swiftly by the steady thwopping sound of a helicopter overhead. It was all unnerving.

Brian was at a conference. It was just me and Luna and rather than being quiet, Luna decided suddenly to be a watch dog, barking incessantly at all the goings on. I was further unnerved!

The neighbourhood Facebook page indicated that the rifle carrying individual had been injured … news later broke that he was shot and killed. In MY neighbourhood! Just steps from where MY kids went to school!

I went up to my office and looked out my window to see parents congregating outside the school doors waiting for their children to be released. I began to weep thinking about what they were going through. How worried and frightened they must have been.

All this on the heels of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas where 19 Grade four children and two teachers were murdered in their classroom. A place that should be a safe place.

What is happening in our world?

Why is this happening?

Unfortunately these two tragic events are just added to the everyday pain and suffering being experienced in individual lives. There's illness, abuse, broken relationships, betrayal, sorrow, injuries, disappointment, heartache, crime and death. And perhaps you've been asking the question too. "Why? Why me? Why now?”

That "why" question is not a new one; it goes back thousands of years. It was asked in the Old Testament by Job and the writers of the Psalms, and it was especially relevant today.

Why do all of these horrific things happen if there's a loving and powerful God? Why do bad things happen to good people?

Maybe you've never asked why our world is infected with pain and suffering, but my guess is one day you will. Jesus said they are coming. Jesus was honest about the inevitability of suffering. In John 16:33 he said, "You will have suffering in this world." He didn't say you might—he said it is going to happen.

But why? If you ask me, "Why did God allow the gunman to spray an elementary school in Texas with gunfire just a few days ago?" the only answer I can honestly give is: ”I do not know."

In 1 Corinthians 13:12 we're told, "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity."

Someday we'll see with clarity, but for now things are foggy. We can't understand everything from our finite perspective. And frankly, the people suffering from the Texas tragedy don't need a big theological treatise right now; any intellectual response is going to seem trite and inadequate. What they desperately need now is the very real and comforting presence of Jesus Christ in their lives. And I'm so grateful that so many churches and ministries are helping them experience that.

Yet it's still important to grapple with the question of why God allows suffering in our lives. Even though we can't understand everything about it, I believe we can understand some things.

Here are a few points to consider:

God is not the creator of evil and suffering.
Though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good.
The day is coming when suffering will cease and God will judge evil.
Our suffering will pale in comparison to the good things God has in store for those who put their faith in God.
We decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage.

When tragedy strikes, as it will; when suffering comes, as it will; when you're wrestling with pain, as you will—and when you make the choice to run into the arms of Jesus, here's what you're going to discover: you'll find peace to deal with the present, you'll find courage to deal with your future, and you'll find the incredible promise of eternal life in heaven.

Please join me in this prayer:

Lord God, our hearts are broken with pain as we hear again of death and despair caused by gun violence.

Families mourn, children live in fear, and the nation asks why.

We ask, O Lord, that you comfort those effected by the events in a little Scarborough neighbourhood, and we ask that you would comfort those wounded by events in Uvalde, Texas.

Care for the souls who grieve and help us work for greater and lasting peace.

Help us to transform our own hearts, to turn from violence, and to seek peaceful ways of resolving differences.

Let our hands connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness.

Let our voices be raised asking lawmakers to create the means to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable that this may not happen again. Oh Lord, not again.

And let our choices be those that make our nation a healthy, holy home.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life. Amen