A God Thing

By Lisa Nordell-Detres

Have you ever noticed that when good things happen to good people, we tend to say with confidence that “It was a God thing?” But when bad things happen to good people or when tragedies strike, we are at a loss for words? How can God let this happen?

Words cannot express the loss that we feel at the death of a loved one or a major setback in life. It is often during those times of disaster that we can grow the most as individuals. The most powerful comfort often comes from those who have experienced similar losses in their lives.

The story of Job in the Bible is an amazing testimony of one man’s faithfulness in the midst of unimaginable loss. Job was a righteous man in God’s eyes, a wealthy husband and father with ten grown children. In a very short time, his children were all killed and his wealth and health were taken from him. All he had left were his unsupportive wife and friends who came not to comfort him but to try to get him to confess some sin that they assumed was the reason for Job’s misfortune. Despite his dire circumstances, Job refused to curse God, but rather spoke with amazing clarity his understanding of God’s sovereignty,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. ” (Job 1:21)

And again, “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10b)

When we hear of people who have experienced substantial loss, they often express one of two perspectives. Either they mourn that “all is lost; life is over” or that “it was all just stuff and we are thankful to be alive.” Trusting in God’s daily provision can give us peace and a higher perspective in any of life’s circumstances.

Lisa Nordell-Detres is a mother or four, pastor’s wife and has worked in the garment and customer service industries in southern California. Besides writing, Lisa enjoys cooking, sewing, organic gardening, hiking, skiing and doing most anything outside.

Lisa was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Fashion Design from Woodbury University and an MBA from California State University at Northridge. Lisa, her husband and their youngest child now live in central Oregon.