Blame: “To assign responsibility for a fault or a wrong.” (Oxford Languages)
When something unfortunate happens, something bad, something unfathomable, our human nature tell us to blame. Blame someone. Blame something. Because it’s not on us. If only someone did this or did that….If we didn’t allow this or that…. If only the laws protected us better….If only parents parented better…. If only there were more mental health services….If only people were more inclusive….If only…..
You fill in the blank. And, then let’s blame that. Because if only those changes were made, we could rest easy. Our broken world would be fixed.
I also want to blame. I have my own theories. I’d like to think that my feelings or beliefs could control some of the madness in our world, in our country, in our neighborhoods. I not only want answers; I want to resolve the mess and make us all feel better.
However, I can’t. I can only rest assured in these truths. And, offer them to you as well.
- I believe we live in a world of sin. Our people are broken. All of us. Not just “them.” All of us. Bad things. Horrible things. Sin. All happen. Evil happens because of sin in this world. I do not believe that God makes “bad” things happen. He allows free will, and unfortunately, there are those who do not choose Him or His ways.
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 (NIV)
2. I believe God is good. God gives us His word. He gives us His promises. We do not have to live in the enemies’ lies. The fear, the anxiety, the hatred are not part of God’s plan for our lives. Instead, he offers His love, His blessings, and the peace that only He can give.
“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5 (NIV)
3. I believe when we feel discouraged, saddened, or unsettled, we are only going to find comfort and certainty in our Lord and Savior. We can try to blame people, policies, and things we don’t believe in; we can turn to things of this world to make sense of the confusion. But the only way we can truly find hope in the world we live in, is to believe in His ways, His grace, His mercies, His goodness.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Unfortunately, evil will always be a part of the world this side of heaven. That’s where I chose to put the blame. The fault.
But God will always be here as well. He always has been and always will be. We don’t always know why things happen the way they do, but we can know that God loves us. And, He tells us to come to him; He will give us what we need. But even more than that, He gives all who accept Him, through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, life eternal.
As my heart breaks for many reasons today, my prayer is that you, too, may find some peace in these truths as we navigate through the sadness, the unknown, the concerns in our world today.
May God bless you and yours.