Tragedies are all around us. It doesn't take more than a quick glance at the news to recognize the reality of devastation and its inevitability in our own lives. In times of tragedy, one of the first words that often finds itself on our lips is, "Why?" In the moment, it is usually a cry of desperation as we try to wrap our minds around the loss we have just witnessed. After the initial shock of things, however, that question can become one of deep philosophical and theological meaning as we try to reconcile events with what we know and believe about life, humanity, and God.

This weekend, I was reading Acts 12 and noticed something fascinating. In the beginning of that chapter, we read:

About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword.
-Acts 12.1-2, NLT

In the very next verse, Herod has Peter arrested and intends on similarly putting him to death. This time, however, the outcome is very different. Peter is miraculously rescued from his captor by an angel, resulting in his startled confession:

The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!
-Acts 12.11, NLT

Why?

Why did the Lord supernaturally intervene in Peter's life but not James? Were not both apostles? Were not both deeply involved in the life of the infant church? Were not both (insert question here)?

Here's the startling thing, for me at least. Luke neither asks nor speculates why. Nor does anyone else in his account.

Does this suggest that no one in the church asked why? I doubt it. Such a question is only natural. But, for the Christian, such a question is ultimately a distraction. Even in the midst of great suffering, pain, and sorrow, the question of why is never answered in Scripture--read Job if you don't believe me.

And so, that question is the wrong question to ask. Instead of asking, "Why did God allow this suffering to take place?" the proper question to ask is, "What has God done about this great suffering?" The answer to that question, of course, is found in Christ.

In Christ, evil is finally conquered. In Christ, pain is completely soothed. In Christ, suffering is ultimately comforted.