Crisis of Faith or Cry of Distress (2-day)

Trauma and loss can shape and shatter meaning. When people encounter trauma, they enter a state of distress and grief. Often, they want a reason for what happened to us. They want to know why, so they can once again have a sense of order and predictability about life. They try to make sense of what seems senseless. They want to make meaning of that which seems so meaningless. They cry out to God asking—Why? They want answers—they expect answers—they plead for answers, but sometimes heaven remains silent. John the Baptist while in prison needed answers. He had his disciples ask Jesus—Are you the one? He was trying to make meaning! Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus had died, and Jesus was late getting there or so they thought. They told Jesus—Had you been here my brother would not have died. They were trying to make meaning of what had happened! Many people view God through the lens of loss, grief, and suffering. They don’t understand why God would allow what happened to happen. They begin to question His sovereignty, His power, His knowledge, and His love. Some even begin to question their own faith. These people could be experiencing what is known as a Crisis of Faith. Or is it simply a cry of distress?