The Heartache of the Texas Floods

The Texas floods have burrowed deep into our hearts. The images of loss from the Camp Mystic disaster are inescapable, striking nerves in parents, grandparents, and anyone with a cherished child in their life. Our nation feels this pain but responds in broken, divided ways. How do we react? Do we react at all? Why do these tragedies happen, and is there anyone to blame for the reason for suffering?

The Theological Debate: Why Does Suffering Exist?

The reason for suffering is a pivotal question in theological debates, especially among atheists and agnostics. Many argue, “If there’s a God and he’s so good, why is there so much suffering?” In Lee Strobel’s A Case for Faith, he shares the story of his friend, former evangelist Charles Templeton, who walked away from faith after seeing a Life Magazine photograph. Templeton described it to Strobel: “It was a picture of a black woman in Northern Africa. They were experiencing a devastating drought. And she was holding her dead baby in her arms and looking up to heaven with a most forlorn expression. I looked at it and I thought, ‘Is it possible to believe there is a loving or caring Creator when all this woman needed was rain?’” This mirrors the anguish we feel over the Texas floods, where the loss of children at a Christian camp feels unfathomable.

Searching for Answers in Tragedy

The Camp Mystic disaster has sparked raw emotions. Atheists point fingers at the government or the camp’s Christian demographics, claiming the children suffered due to their parents’ beliefs or political stances. Christians wrestle with why God didn’t stop the rain to protect these young lives. Both sides struggle with the reason for suffering, seeking a scapegoat or explanation for the unexplainable loss of innocent children.

The Root of Suffering: Sin and a Fallen World

In A Case for Faith, Strobel interviews philosopher Peter Kreeft, who argues that the reason for suffering lies in humanity’s fall into sin. Moral evil, stemming from free will, led to the broken state of our world, allowing natural evils like floods and diseases. Yet, Kreeft insists God’s goodness persists. He points to the incarnation, God watching His Son die on the cross to redeem the world, as the answer to suffering. Kreeft says, “God’s answer is the incarnation. He himself entered into all that agony, he himself bore all the pain of this world, and that’s unimaginable and shattering and even more impressive than the divine power of creating the world in the first place.”

Finding Meaning in Pain

When I was young, a missionary spoke to my class about losing his parents, who were serving in a third-world country to build a school. They died when strapping broke on a truck carrying 2x4s, and the boards crashed through their windshield. He recalled people saying, “God doesn’t allow bad things like this to happen.” His response stuck with me: “Please don’t tell me that my God isn’t big enough to redirect the path of 2x4s. Please don’t tell me that my parents died without meaning.” His words suggest God isn’t the cause of suffering but may allow it for a greater purpose we may not see in this life. Romans 8:28 assures us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Hope for Eternity: The Promise of Heaven

Theologian Joel Muddamalle recently addressed the Texas tragedy, citing scriptures like Isaiah 65:17 and Jesus welcoming children in Matthew. He offered this perspective: “I think (following Randy Alcorn) that this is evidence that God’s kindness extends to children that parents have tragically lost. What if God saw it fit and good for children to continue their life that was cut short on this side of eternity in the new heavens and earth where they will be reunited with their parents. This would be a joy for the child to grow up in the perfection and also redemption for those parents to enjoy raising their children in perfection! This extends beyond parents but also siblings.” This hope, rooted in scripture, suggests the reason for suffering is not the end but a step toward eternal restoration.

Responding to Suffering with Grace

Suffering is inevitable in a broken world, but God doesn’t cause it—He redeems it. Our response to the reason for suffering is our witness. As Christians, we face pain with hope, knowing this life isn’t the end. We know that God isn’t the author of our pain, but may allow it for the good of His kingdom, knowing that our suffering is temporary. When others react in grief or anger, we must show grace, reflecting God’s love. The Texas floods call us to trust God’s promises, extending compassion to those hurting, believer or not, as we hold fast to the hope of our eternal home.

To find more about our community – checkout our website! To find more resources about how to work through faith struggles and finding your community, join our Skool page!