Chardon High - Why God?

This past Monday morning many of us were awakened to the news of tragedy. It wasn’t as shocking as when it happened 13 years ago in Colorado, but it still breaks our hearts and leads us to ask questions. At 7:40 on Monday morning, T.J. Lane opened fire in Chardon High Schools cafeteria and shot five students before fleeing the school. Since the shooting, two of the students have died and two others are in critical condition. Students from the school commented that T.J. was often bullied for his ‘Goth’ wardrobe and attitude.

Chardon is a community very similar to Gull Lake, Plainwell, or Portage. This isn’t an inner city community where gang and domestic violence are common, it’s a community much like our own. We hear about tragedy like this and we can’t help but ask the question, where is God? Why didn’t He intervene? We know that nothing surprises God, but man it seems really unfair to those students. We all make mistakes, why were they punished in this way?

Throughout all of our stories are times where if we’re honest, we question the sovereignty or decision making ability of God. Why does He do certain things and not others? Why do miracles happen for some and not for others? Or maybe your story up to this point hasn’t included God very much at all and you’re asking the question, why am I here? What’s my purpose? Is there a God?


I know God welcomes our questions.


What questions do you have? Are you honestly asking them? 



You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13