Wednesday Wisdom | Wisdom for Facing Unspeakable Tragedy

There are moments in life that leave us breathless, not because they’re beautiful, but because they’re too heavy to bear. When tragedy strikes it can feel like the world stops spinning and God goes silent. We can easily get buried under the heavy rocks of sudden loss, unbearable grief, and senseless violence.

Through experience, I’ve learned that in those moments, wisdom isn’t loud. Heck, it doesn’t even always offer answers. Often, wisdom sits quietly beside us, letting us weep, rage, or simply sit in stunned silence.

Here’s some of what I’ve come to believe wisdom looks like in the face of unspeakable tragedy:

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1. Let Silence Speak

Not everything needs to be explained. Not everything can be. In a culture that rushes to fill every moment with words, silence feels foreign, but it can be sacred. Sometimes, the wisest response to tragedy is “I don’t know.” And that’s okay.

“Even silence can be a form of love.” Henri Nouwen

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2. Hold Grief Gently

Grief doesn’t follow a schedule. It arrives like a tide; sometimes soft, sometimes fierce. Let it wash over you without judgment. You’re not weak for feeling shattered. You’re simply a human being.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

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3. Accept Help—Even If You Don’t Know What You Need

Tragedy isolates, and in isolation, it’s easy to feel like a burden. But let people carry you through a meal, a phone call, or a quiet hug. You don’t have to explain yourself. Just let love in.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

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4. Don’t Force Meaning Too Soon

We want to make sense of things. We want purpose from pain. But some wounds take time before any meaning emerges, if it ever does. Rushing to find “the why” can deepen the wound. Quit picking at it. Let it be for now.

“There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7

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5. You Are Not Alone

You may feel abandoned. Forgotten. Lost. But you are seen by others and by God. Even when you can’t feel Him, the Lord is near. And when you have no words, the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

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6. Take One Breath at a Time

You don’t have to figure out tomorrow. Or next week. Just today. Just this moment. Get up. Breathe. Drink water. Eat something. Rest. All of these are powerful acts of resistance and faith.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:34

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7. Let Suffering Soften You

Tragedy can make us bitter. Or it can make us more tender, more attuned to others’ pain, more aware of our need for grace. Don’t rush the process. When you’re ready, let your pain deepen your compassion.

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Rumi

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If you’re walking through unspeakable tragedy, know you are not forgotten. You don’t have to be strong. You just have to be. And that’s more than enough for today.

May the peace that passes all understanding guard your heart and your mind, especially when understanding feels impossibly far away.

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

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