Podcast Summary: "Why, God?" Trusting God in Tragedy

Cornerstone Chapel – Audio Podcast
Date: July 13, 2025

Overview

In this emotionally charged episode, Cornerstone Chapel departs from their regular study of Second Corinthians to address a recent tragedy: the catastrophic flash flooding in Central Texas, which resulted in significant loss of life, including many children. Drawing from Psalm 13, the speaker grapples with the profound question, "Why, God?"—exploring how believers can trust God in times of suffering and tragedy. The discussion balances biblical reflections with empathy for those enduring pain, offering listeners both theological context and pastoral comfort.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Reality of Tragedy and the Human Need to Ask "Why?"

• Central Texas Flood Tragedy:

  • The recent flash flooding claimed 129 lives (including 36 young girls from Mystic Camp), with 170 still missing—the deadliest such event in 50 years ([00:00]).
  • “It has left a lot of people wondering, where was God in all of this? And how are we to make sense of tragedies like this and tragedies in your own lives?” ([02:30])

• Connection to Psalm 13:

  • David’s lament in Psalm 13 exemplifies the heartfelt questions people ask God during painful times ([03:30]):
    • “How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? … How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?”
  • These four questions (Psalm 13:1–2) boil down to “Why, God?” ([06:35])

It’s Not Wrong to Question God

• Many biblical figures—David, Moses, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, even Jesus—questioned God during times of despair ([08:00]).

• Speaker Quote:

  • “God’s a big God. He can take us asking, ‘Why Lord?’” ([09:15])
  • Even Jesus on the cross asked, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22, Matthew 27:46).

• Acknowledgement:

  • “It’s not wrong to ask questions, but please know that God is not obligated to answer either. That’s the hard part.” ([11:00])

Faith Amid Unanswered Questions

• Some Things Will Not Be Understood This Side of Heaven

  • Referencing 1 Corinthians 13:12; “Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror… Now I know in part; then I shall know fully.” ([13:50])
  • “Paul writes…in this world, during this lifetime, I only know in part. But…when I get to heaven, when I’m with the Lord, then I will understand things I can’t understand now.” ([14:30])

• Caution Against Cliché Answers:

  • The speaker critiques superficial consolations:
    • “I don’t like it when people say, ‘God needed another angel in heaven’…Do you realize how painful that kind of thing is to those especially who have lost those little ones?” ([16:20])
  • Recognizes that theological answers don’t erase personal pain.

• Living in a Fallen World:

  • “The only answer is a broader answer...we do live in a fallen world that is sin-stained...God sent Jesus to rescue us from this world.” ([17:15])
  • Jesus’s words: “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I’ve overcome the world.” ([18:00])

Trusting God as Our Father

• Parental Analogy:

  • Just as children can’t understand every decision a parent makes but are asked to trust, so must believers trust their Heavenly Father ([19:20]).
  • “Our heavenly dad is saying, just trust me, just trust me. Even in your sorrow, even in your pain.” ([20:00])

• The Just Shall Live by Faith (Habakkuk 2:4)

  • God never harshly rebukes Habakkuk for asking “why” but gives him a principle to live by:
    • “The just shall live by faith.” ([21:15])
  • In the New Testament, this phrase undergirds faith in salvation and ordinary life when things don’t make sense ([22:10]).

Remembering What We Do Know in the Face of What We Don’t

• What We Know:

  • A. Children Are With Jesus:

    • “Those little children are with Jesus now...God welcomes children into heaven when they die.” ([23:50])
    • Referencing Mark 10:14 and Deuteronomy 1:39, the speaker assures listeners of God’s special provision for children lost before the age of accountability.
    • Personal reflection:
      • “I started to imagine the last few seconds of those children...the only thing that brought me comfort was the reminder that God has assigned angels...God swept up these little children in the arms of an angel and escorted them safely to heaven.” ([26:00])

  • B. God Loves Us and Nothing Can Separate Us from His Love:

    • Romans 8:35, 38–39: “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels…shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ([28:20])

  • C. God Comforts the Brokenhearted:

    • Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
    • Isaiah 66:13: “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you, says the Lord.” ([29:10])

  • D. God Is Good Even When Times Are Bad:

    • Psalm 106:1: “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his mercy endures forever.” ([30:00])

Practical and Pastoral Encouragement

• Learning a “New Normal”:

  • “The pain never goes away—you just learn to manage it better. Their lives will never be the same...But God helps you to navigate a new normal.” ([18:50])

• Coming Alongside the Grieving:

  • Sometimes there are no answers; presence and empathy are the ministry:
    • “All we can sometimes do is say, ‘I feel your sadness and I mourn with you and I pray for you.’” ([18:20])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Questioning God:

  • “Asking questions is not offensive to God. God’s a big God. He can take us asking, ‘Why Lord?’” ([09:15])

• On Superficial Consolation:

  • “When people say things like, ‘Well, those little girls who died, I guess God needed another angel in heaven’…Do you realize how painful that kind of thing is…” ([16:20])

• On Faith Despite Understanding:

  • “The just shall live by faith.” ([21:15])
  • “In whatever given situation you’re in, wherever you have questions, you have to go back as far as you can to what you do know that you can rely on.” ([23:40])

• On God’s Comfort:

  • “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, [29:10])

• On the Hope of Heaven and Child Loss:

  • “God swept up these little children in the arms of an angel and escorted them safely to heaven, where they were never alone.” ([26:20])

Important Timestamps

• [00:00]–[03:00]: Introduction and context of the Central Texas tragedy
• [03:30]: Reading and discussion of Psalm 13
• [08:00]: On the legitimacy of asking God “Why?”
• [13:50]: Some questions only answered in eternity; 1 Corinthians 13:12
• [16:20]: Rejecting pat answers (“God needed another angel…”)
• [18:00]: The reality of living in a fallen world
• [19:20]: Parental analogy and trusting God as Father
• [21:15]: Habakkuk 2:4 – “The just shall live by faith”
• [23:50]: Assurance for grieving families – “Children with Jesus”
• [26:00]: The hope of angelic escort into God’s presence
• [28:20]: God’s steadfast love
• [29:10]: God’s comfort for the brokenhearted
• [30:00]: God’s enduring goodness
• [32:00]: Closing prayer of comfort and hope

Conclusion

This episode offers a compassionate, biblically grounded approach to facing life’s most anguishing questions, particularly in the aftermath of tragedy. The message is clear: it is natural—and even scriptural—to cry out, "Why, God?" While answers are sometimes withheld this side of heaven, God welcomes our honesty, assures us of his love, and invites us to trust him as our Father, especially when life’s pain threatens to overwhelm us.

In the closing prayer ([32:00]), listeners are invited to lean into God’s mercy and comfort, receiving his presence and grace in the face of heartache, both personal and collective. The episode ends with encouragement: even when times are at their darkest, God’s goodness and love endure.