The phone rings with news that takes your breath away.
Stunning news. A tragic car accident leaving several family members dead or injured. The unexpected death of a child. A flash flood that sweeps away the homes of church members. And the list goes on. No seminary class can adequately prepare a pastor for the unforeseen tragedy that strikes such a blow to a church or a community.
Such tragic moments demand a response from the pulpit on Sunday. People need a word of hope and a word that helps. The pressure on the pastor in such moments is hard and heavy. Pastors understand this particular kind of pressure and still find it difficult to handle. But this is a pastor’s responsibility.
God’s Word, spoken through a wise, loving shepherd, is exactly what the church needs in these moments. They may not be the entire focus of the Sunday sermon, but they must be addressed at some level. Perhaps it is a call to prayer as the worship service begins simply to address the “wound in the room” weighing on the hearts of people. They need to know their feelings are shared by others and that the church family has gathered to help carry some of the burden.
Key principles to remember
Here are a few key principles pastors should remember in such moments:
Resist the temptation to explain everything. We may not understand God’s purpose, but we can point people to His presence and His promises. Job’s friends tried to explain things and failed miserably. They offered their opinions when Job needed compassion.
Job’s story is a reminder that God often has mysteries that cannot be fully understood. Isaiah 55:8 reminds us that, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. It is enough to be honest that we can’t answer the “why” question.
Give people permission to grieve. The pastor’s responsibility is not to rush people through grief, but to walk with them through it. It is also a pastor’s great privilege to share in such holy moments with his congregation. Jesus stood at the tomb of his friend Lazarus and He wept (John 11:35).
His tears ministered to the family. Jesus walked into their grief, and He affirmed it and felt it. Romans 12:15 reminds us to “weep with those who weep.” It is not a sign of weak faith when we weep. People need to be reminded that Jesus weeps with us in our grief.
Point people to the presence of God. When tragedy strikes a church family, they need to be reminded that they are not alone. God’s presence is a promise that His people must embrace. Psalm 34:18 reminds us “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and He delivers those whose spirit is crushed.” God is not distant or absent from that tragedy — He is in it with us. Jesus is Emmanuel — especially in moments of grief. Psalm 23 never promises only mountains and no valleys. Rather, He promises to be present with us in the dark and difficult days. “Thou art with me” is more than a cliché. It is a rock-solid promise of His abiding presence.
Always offer people hope. Jesus is our ultimate hope. When He stood with the family of his friend Lazarus, He said, “I Am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). We may not understand the tragic situation, but we know our Savior. Jesus is with us and He is for us.
There is a day coming when this dark experience will be fully exposed to the light of His presence. Jesus promises to wipe away all tears from our eyes, and this kind of pain and suffering will be over (Revelation 21:4).
Paul makes this point clear in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 when he clarifies that “we do not sorrow as others with no hope.” Our sorrow, our pain, our tears, and our grief are full of hope because of the gospel, because of an empty tomb, and because of the faithful promises of our great Savior.
Standing before a church following a tragedy is extremely difficult but is also a great privilege.
It is God’s great grace to a congregation to give them a shepherd to lead them through dark valleys. Pastor, lead your people as the Holy Spirit leads you.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Danny Sinquefield and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
