Can we not speak of God during tragedy?

I am replying to Theodore Utchen's Feb. 1 Fence Post submission about prayer. It would seem that he believes we pray in an attempt to manipulate God into doing what we want him to do. Sadly, Mr. Utchen is not the only one who has this misunderstanding about prayer. Prayer is our expression of dependence on God, our recognition that he is sovereign over all things, that he knows all things, and that he cares about the people he has not only created, but redeemed through the cross and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ.

Secondly, God is not arbitrary or capricious as Mr. Utchen appeared to indicate. God knows and does what is for the very best. We often cannot understand that, or understand why, but must accept God's answer on faith, based on what we know from the Bible of his character, that his will is perfect.

God does not enjoy our suffering. However, he allows it and uses it to grow us and others. His goals are eternal, not temporal. My personal experience, and I am not alone in this, is that I learn far more through adversity than when things are easy in my life. That doesn't mean I like it. I don't believe God expects us to like suffering. He is, after all, a rational being.

Regarding Utchen's criticism of Sarah Palin's statement about praying for the victims and their families, I am certain she was not speaking of praying for the dead, which would make no sense, but praying for those injured victims such as the Congresswoman, and the families of all those who were shot, even the family of the man who did the shooting. How can we not bring God into times of tragedy?

P.J. Bertrand

Wood Dale