Perhaps nothing is more damaging to the image of a loving God than the death of a child. The universal refrain following such an event is “how can God allow that to happen?” Whether it be by violence, accident or illness, many a believer, pastors included, have found their faith severely tested when a child dies.

Our human logic struggles to reconcile the concept of loving God with the anguish of witnessing the death of an innocent child. It seems inconceivable that such a God would not only allow the pain and suffering, but would deny that child the joys they would experience as they grew to adulthood. The thrill of that first romantic kiss, getting a drivers license, cashing that first real paycheck, walking across the stage to receive her diploma – how can a loving God deny those pleasures?

Somehow the phrase, “everything happens for a reason,” rings hollow and false.

Perhaps the answer can only come to us in less stressful times. Perhaps the answer is to build up a reserve of faith and trust before it is needed.

If we are true to our logical minds, we must acknowledge that we cannot come to an accurate conclusion or understanding without all the facts. In anything related to the plans, purposes and intentions of God, we are undoubtedly lacking in information.

The best we can hope to do in difficult circumstances is to fall back on the reserves of trust that we have accumulated. In doing so we may recognize that there may indeed be elements of God’s ultimate plans for humanity that we are incapable of understanding or appreciating.

Everyone’s life contains some degree of pain, suffering, and tragedy. These are normal elements of the human experience. Perhaps it is the price we must pay for one of God’s greatest gifts-  free will-  and perhaps random events are part of God’s gift of human experience.

Those of us who are parents will recognize that there are times when we allow our children to experience some pain when we know from our older/wiser perspective, that such pain serves a greater purpose in our child’s growth into adulthood. Perhaps, from God’s perspective, our pain, in losing a child, serves a greater purpose than we can understand or recognize in our journey of spiritual growth.

Certainly an all-powerful God could intercede in human events, but perhaps he only does so when it serves a specific purpose in His plans.

Perhaps death, no matter how tragic in human terms, is merely another brief stop on the road to eternity. And perhaps the glory and joy that await us beyond death’s door make even the most painful demise nothing more than a mosquito bite in this life. And in that hope, we can mourn our loss, and at the same time celebrate in the knowledge that our lost child has earned a head start on the journey to spiritual bliss.