In light of the Virginia Tech Tragedy and the other shootings recently, I felt the need to just remind everyone that God is still a good God. Many have asked, why did this happen to such young, innocent people? How can God be a good God when such a tragedy has occurred like the one at Virginia Tech? Well, have we all forgotten something here? Hello, there is a devil out there. He walks about daily, seeking whom he may devour. (1^st Peter 5:8) Maybe he’s the killer? Maybe the devil is the one that talked that young man into killing those professors and students, as well as himself. One thing I know for sure, it wasn’t God. God is not to blame. And besides, a tragedy occurring does not void the fact that God is a good God!

The Bible says in John 10:10, "The thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy." I think that is evidence enough that the devil was the one who caused death on the campus of Virginia Tech. I heard one man describing what he had witnessed to CNN. He said, I seen God moving and I seen the devil moving. While the devil was there to kill, God was there to save lives. In contrast, God is a good God but the devil is a bad devil. Let’s not blame God for the things the devil is doing.

I believe, with all my heart, that God did save lives on campus that day. How many lives were saved because God intervened is something we may never know. However, I realize that doesn’t mean much to those who lost loved ones on the same day. My heart goes out to them! And, my heart goes out to the family of the gunman. Imagine how they must be feeling? They have a son they love and are very proud of, but after turning on CNN, suddenly they find out he has just killed 32 people. And then they find out later that he has killed himself. Things couldn’t get much worse for that family. There are no words to describe how they must be feeling. The shooter’s family is not only dealing with a very public tragedy they are dealing with a personal and private one as well. They lost a son and a brother! And what’s worse, he’s the reason others are dead.

A statement issued by the gunman’s sister, Sun-Kyung Cho, on the family's behalf, said they felt hopeless, helpless, and lost. This family is a victim in the Virginia Tech shootings as well as the other families. Let’s hold them up in our prayers. Let’s pray for all the families that are involved in this tragic event that has been labeled as the worst massacre in the history of the United States of America.

I want to address your situation. Perhaps you have suffered a tragedy recently? Do you feel as if God doesn’t care about you and is oblivious to what you’re going through? Are you thinking that maybe this God you’re serving isn’t such a good God after all? Perhaps all the love that has been bestowed upon the families of the Virginia Tech tragedy has made you feel even more depressed and alone. Maybe that’s because no one has even noticed that you are hurting. Well, I can assure you that people care about you. God cares even more. The Bible says in 1^st Peter 5:7 that we are to cast all our cares on Him for He cares for us. If you’re going through something hard right now just cast it over on the Lord. Allow him to care for you. He will lift your burdens. Matthew 11:30 says, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Allow Jesus to lighten your burden.

The devil wants you to think that no one cares about you, especially God. Be aware of that and don’t fall prey to his conniving thoughts. The devil will lie to you from the moment you get out of bed until you fall asleep again at night. Don’t allow the thoughts he brings to you to penetrate your mind. My daughter Jessica has a favorite verse. Let me share it with you. Its in 2^nd Corinthians 10:5. It says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

When the devil brings you a thought that is contrary to what the Word of God says, cast that thought down. Instead of listening to the devil get your Bible out and read what God is saying to you about your life and your situation. Don’t listen to the devil. Do you remember what happened to Eve when she started listening to the devil? She got both herself, and her husband, thrown out of the Garden of Eden.

If you have suffered a tragedy allow God to turn things around for your good. I mentioned this scripture in my last article and its worth mentioning again. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

No matter what type of tragic situation you have encountered, God can turn it around for your good.

I want to encourage you to keep on keeping on for God. Don’t allow the things the devil has caused in the last little while to get you off track. We don’t know why a young man went insane and started killing. We don’t know why innocent lives were taken. I don’t know why you’re going through the things you’re going through right now. But there is one thing I do know; I know in spite of tragedies and the devil’s lies—God is still a good God.

Part II

The tragedy like the one that happened at Virginia Tech does not have to happen to you and your family. Brothers and Sisters, according to Psalms 91, we need not be afraid of the terror by night or the arrow that flies by day. We are the Children of God and God’s Word provides us with, not only salvation for our souls and healing for our bodies, but protection and deliverance from evil as well. And as God’s Children we need to put into action what is available to us through His Word.

• Cover your family with the Blood of Jesus everyday! (The Blood Provides Protection)
• Quote and claim God’s promises for yourself as well as your loved ones. (Take time to call out the names of each family member as well as your own name.)

Quoting and claiming scriptures for good health, salvation, long life etc. is what I like to call ‘Preventive Prayer’. I have a theory on this. If you pray for what you want to come to pass, what you don’t want to come to pass, won’t! You’ve heard the old saying about preventive medicine haven’t you? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can head off the devil by praying preventively

• Claim the 91^st Psalm.

• Be aware of Angels. I want to point out the Angel of the Lord is encamped around those that fear God. He is there to watch over us and protect us. (Read Psalm 34:7 and )

I can’t say this strong enough, quoting and claiming scriptures is only a part of what you can do to protect yourself and your family from the enemy. Living a holy life before God is of the urgent most importance. If you’re not living a holy life before God quoting scriptures isn’t going to do you much good, now is it? The Bible says in 1^st Peter 3:12, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous; and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

Be realistic people. Only if you are a Child of God do you have any right to claim God’s promises. So, if you’re not saved, let’s take care of that right now. click here

A long time ago I heard a sister in the Lord say something about living in a bubble. I can’t recall exactly how she said it, but the part about living in a bubble stuck with me. As God’s Children we can live in a spiritual bubble, so to speak, completely shielded and protected from the outside world. But the devil would like nothing more than to burst our bubble and fill our hearts and minds with worry. Therefore, we must stand firm on God’s Word and not allow him to do that. God is in control and He will protect us. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t be much of a Father would He?

Psalms 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way." We can delight in our way free from the worry of tragedy. God is an all seeing God and He will not lead His children into an area where He knows there is going to be danger. We can rest assured of that. Have you ever changed your mind about going somewhere? Or perhaps, you went on but you decided to go another way? Well quite possibly there was a reason for that. God just may have been redirecting your footsteps to keep you safe.

Until next time, remember, God is a good God—don’t let the devil tell you different!

Copyright 2007 Darlene Osborne (All Rights Reserved)

Darlene Osborne is the Founder and Publisher of TheChristianOnlineMagazine.Com