How much tragedy or burdens can one sustain before all faith is lost?

[cougarobgon]

A couple in our stake lost one of their sons (38 y/o) a little over a month ago. It was a tragic end to the life of a man struggling with alcoholic addiction. Just this past Monday, the couple lost a second son, close to the same age as the first. The couple took the first son’s loss with great difficulty, but from what I could see as an outsider, they had dealt with it and were moving on with life. Now after the second son’s passing, I cannot imagine how they must be feeling.

How can one not blame God for such misfortune? How can one not stop believing in a God that allows parents, spouses, and children to experience so much sorrow and tragedy in their lives?

Although I am in my mid 40s, I have neither experienced the loss of an immediate family member nor have I experienced any significant tragedy that has tested my faith. I am confident that if tragedy strikes my life that I will be able to rely on my faith and be able to overcome.

To those of you who consider yourselves believers in God, how have you dealt with or have seen others deal with such sorrow and tragedy?

To those who are not believers in God, how have you dealt with such sorrow and tragedy? What sustains you in the your time of sorrow?

[TripletDaddy]

Wow, this is a horrible situation. How did the second son pass? What uncanny timing.

For those that blame God, there seems to be an underlying assumption that belief in God precludes or somehow should buffer suffering. This despite numerous scriptural and prophetic utterances that tell us that the path to Salvation is extremely difficult. Strait is the gate.

I have never understood this mindset. History tells us that people have always suffered for their religious beliefs.

That being said, I don't begrudge your ward members their time of anger and frustration. It is part of the natural cycle. And certainly their loss is a horrible one.

[The Wankster]

A couple in our stake lost one of their sons (38 y/o) a little over a month ago. It was a tragic end to the life of a man struggling with alcoholic addiction. Just this past Monday, the couple lost a second son, close to the same age as the first. The couple took the first son’s loss with great difficulty, but from what I could see as an outsider, they had dealt with it and were moving on with life. Now after the second son’s passing, I cannot imagine how they must be feeling.

How can one not blame God for such misfortune? How can one not stop believing in a God that allows parents, spouses, and children to experience so much sorrow and tragedy in their lives?

Although I am in my mid 40s, I have neither experienced the loss of an immediate family member nor have I experienced any significant tragedy that has tested my faith. I am confident that if tragedy strikes my life that I will be able to rely on my faith and be able to overcome.

To those of you who consider yourselves believers in God, how have you dealt with or have seen others deal with such sorrow and tragedy?

To those who are not believers in God, how have you dealt with such sorrow and tragedy? What sustains you in the your time of sorrow?

What a sad story, I have relatives who had a similar tale.

Husband was killed in an aviation accident, son killed 2 years later in a auto accident, daughter who was killed less than 6 months later in an aviation accident.

Half the family dead within 3 years, man did it change the dynamics of that family.

Were it not for them already being a close knit family I'm not sure they would have survived as a family. They really struggled for quite some time, it was really a lonely time for them for some years afterward. We did what we could to help them cope, but how do you truly help someone cope in a time like that?

[RC Vikings]

I lost my father to cancer when I was seventeen. If I ever felt like God took my father when I needed him most I would be very bitter. My belief is that God got this whole ball going with it's warts and all and he's there to help us through it but he is not playing us like chess pieces. When bad things happen instead of asking "why me" ask yourself "why not me".

[fizz assist]

Just think, if these people had lived in the middle east then this kind of loss would be the rule and not the exception. If they had lived 300 years ago it also would be a not uncommon occurance. So whether God is decent or not depends on when and where you live evidently.

I blame God for my not getting what I wanted for Hanukkah. (And the fact that I'm not Jewish is neither here nor there.)

[UtahDan]

Just think, if these people had lived in the middle east then this kind of loss would be the rule and not the exception. If they had lived 300 years ago it also would be a not uncommon occurance. So whether God is decent or not depends on when and where you live evidently.

I blame God for my not getting what I wanted for Hanukkah. (And the fact that I'm not Jewish is neither here nor there.)

Who said that suffering or the lack of it is the measuring stick for the decency of God? Around here you are going to have to construct a much better straw man than that.

Also, what did you want for Hanukkah?

[fizz assist]

Who said that suffering or the lack of it is the measuring stick for the decency of God? Around here you are going to have to construct a much better straw man than that.

Also, what did you want for Hanukkah?

I didn't mean to say that suffering or the lack of it is any measuring stick for the decency of God [although . . . ]. My point is that people don't suspect the connection until something happens to them. A Tsunami wipes out hundreds of thousands of people and we say "gee that's really too bad." But if a couple of our own children die it shakes our faith in God.

My point (admittedly poorly presented) was that if one DID tie one's faith to suffering or lack of it then yadda yadda . . .

[UtahDan]

I didn't mean to say that suffering or the lack of it is any measuring stick for the decency of God [although . . . ]. My point is that people don't suspect the connection until something happens to them. A Tsunami wipes out hundreds of thousands of people and we say "gee that's really too bad." But if a couple of our own children die it shakes our faith in God.

My point (admittedly poorly presented) was that if one DID tie one's faith to suffering or lack of it then yadda yadda . . .

I agree that if one were to tie their faith to the absence of bad things happening they would eventually be disappointed. I think that it is comfort and courage that we can draw from our faith rather than outcomes.

You haven't answered my question about the gift.

[fizz assist]

You haven't answered my question about the gift.

That is correct.

[UtahDan]

That is correct.

If it was something you don't even want to speak about then maybe you have your answer on why God didn't get it for you.

[fizz assist]

If it was something you don't even want to speak about then maybe you have your answer on why God didn't get it for you.

Is my baring my soul about my Hanukkah disapointment vital to your salvation? If I don't spill my guts about it will it mean a wrenching challenge to your faith in God? Can you go on without knowing intimate details about me and my relationship with what's-his-name?

Or, are you just making conversation?

[UtahDan]

Is my baring my soul about my Hanukkah disapointment vital to your salvation? If I don't spill my guts about it will it mean a wrenching challenge to your faith in God? Can you go on without knowing intimate details about me and my relationship with what's-his-name?

Or, are you just making conversation?

You are the one who brought it up. Depending on the answer, I may just decide that God is too cruel and that I don't believe in him. The truth is I was hoping you would say it was the result of a church atrocity and then give the details.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Is my baring my soul about my Hanukkah disapointment vital to your salvation? If I don't spill my guts about it will it mean a wrenching challenge to your faith in God? Can you go on without knowing intimate details about me and my relationship with what's-his-name?

Or, are you just making conversation?

I couldn't care less about the lost gift, but are you really a physicist? Let's do a little test:

Q: What do quantum ducks say?

[fizz assist]

Q: What do quantum ducks say?

Quark Quark Quark

But anybody would know that. And I never claimed to be either a physicist or real.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Quark Quark Quark

But anybody would know that.

Oh, not everyone. You wouldn't believe the stuff we have to explain to the attorneys around here.

And I never claimed to be either a physicist or real.

I was going by your moniker (speaking of obvious).