Tragedy can occur at any time.  A tragedy is an event of great loss, usually of human life. Such an event is said to be tragic!  There are various ways tragedy can affect and influence people long after the event occurs.

The typical reaction to tragedy is heavy grief, followed by a slow recovery. Common feelings following a tragedy include sadness, depression, crying, blame, and even guilt.  Some people wonder what they did to deserve such suffering.  For some, their faith may be a source of comfort in the wake of tragedy!  

Why does God allow tragedy and suffering? 

That "why" question is not a new one; it goes back thousands of years. It was asked in the Old Testament by Job and the writers of the Psalms, and it was especially relevant during the 20th Century, where we witnessed two World Wars, the Holocaust, genocides in the Soviet Union and China, devastating famines in Africa, the killing fields of Cambodia, the emergence of AIDS, the genocide in Rwanda and the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo. And the 21st Century didn't start any better. There was 9/11 and now the Syrian slaughters, and on and on. Why do all of these horrific things happen if there's a loving and powerful God? Why do bad things happen to good people?

Maybe you've never asked why our world is infected with pain and suffering, but my guess is you will when they strike you or a loved one with full force. And Jesus said they are coming. The key is being prepared.

When tragedy strikes or life knocks you down, how do you cope? What can we do to face life’s most difficult moments with grace?

Remember, you’ve been through tough times before and your circumstances will change. The struggle will lessen. It will hurt less one day. Trust things will improve. This too shall pass. Even if life sucks right now, you have to believe things will get better, there will be light soon, you will make it through. Remember your blessings and strength and values and dreams… those things will keep you grateful and ready.

At various stages in our lives, for a variety of reasons, our lives take a huge shift, and we must find a new normal.  

Whether it be due to empty nesting, divorce, death of a loved one, a tragic debilitating accident, loss of a job/career change, family issues, illness, etc. The list is almost endless.  

We plan for our futures in many ways.   However, are we ever really prepared to adjust to a life-changing event, and sometimes even a series of events? 

As details about tragedies unfold, it is normal to have a wide range of thoughts, feelings, and reactions.
Thinking about the future—prospection—can be incredibly important in times of stress.  To prepare, we can begin by visualizing the new routines and changed interactions that will become part of our daily lives.  

When something bad happens, ask, “What does this mean to me?” and be bigger than thinking everything in life is permanent or your fault. Find an optimistic meaning for what you are going through, even if it seems like nothing good could come from it. You will get stronger if you decide the meaning of the event is there to teach you something, to allow you to grow, to urge you to change, or be kind or take action. What lessons can be learned that will make you better or happier or more successful in the future?

No matter what, every single day, keep your enthusiasm for the day and for tomorrow alive. You control the meaning you give things, and thus the energy and emotion of your life. Keep a bright future at the forefront of your mind and every day take at least one step toward it. You can do at least a few things today to move forward. You are stronger than you imagine and a brighter day will be here soon. 

Most importantly remember...God is in control!

Twylia Reid is a Best-Selling-Multi-Award-Winning Author and Multi-Published non-fiction writer.  Her work has appeared in numerous publications, in print, and online.  2019 Trinity Nonprofit Awards Finalist, 2019 Blacks In Government Featured Speaker, 2019 110th NAACP Conference Featured Author/Panelist Moderator, 2019 Unspoken Wounds Women Veteran's Portrait of Personal Courage Award Recipient, 2019 ACHI (Strength In Sisterhood) Magazine Woman of Achievement & Author of the Year Award Nominee, 2018 48th Congressional Legislative Caucus Featured Author, 2019 Winner of The Authors Show Health/Fitness/Wellness Top Female Author, 2018 Winner of The Authors Show Female Non-Fiction Author, The Huffington Post Expert Feature Series “Who’s Who –10 Black Female Experts to Watch in 2018” selected, and 2017 American Book Fest Best Book Awards Finalist.

Minister, speaker, entrepreneur, brain-injury-community advocate, and caregiver, she's the Founder of Broken Wings, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created to assist brain injury survivors and their families, Founder of When Heaven Speaks, LLC book coaching & publishing, Founder of Broken Wings Brain Injury Empowerment Group, Warring Women Arise and Pray Group, and the Executive Producer/Host of the Conquerors Café radio show where her knowledge and expertise is used as a conduit to help empower, educate, and enlighten survivors & caregivers of traumatic events by teaching them how to create the life they desire in spite of the challenges faced after a tragedy. 

Her mantra is “Aspiring to Inspire Others!”  To learn more, visit her website at www.twyliareid.com

Congratulations!  You have completed When Heaven Speaks Learning Academy's From Tragedy to Working Strategies Online Course!