On July 3, 2025, the National Weather Service issued its first warnings of possible flash floods in central Texas. Their predictions were accurate.
Thunderstorms pelted the gently rolling hills, and then the floods came—with a vengeance! Early in the morning of July 4, a wall of water over two stories high swept through campgrounds, homes, and summer camps. It uprooted spreading oaks, piled cars on top of each other, and knocked over houses.
Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp, was hit especially hard. At least 27 campers and counselors died in the horrific floods.
Why God? Where are You?
Many people are wondering, “Where is God in all of this? Why did He allow all these girls to die when they were at camp to learn about Him?”
Maybe you are asking these questions too. They are fair questions.
People in the Bible also wondered. The prophet Habakkuk asked, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ and You will not save” (Habakkuk 1:2). And when Job lost all his possessions and his children in one day, he wailed, “Why do You hide Your face, and regard me as Your enemy?” (Job 13:24).
It’s hard to fathom how a loving God could allow us to suffer. We wonder: “If He really loves us, wouldn’t He prevent all our pain? Where is He?”
God With Us
Jesus is the answer to that question: He is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He’s not a god who stands at a distance, cold and aloof. He’s our Savior who came to be with us—to experience life as we do—so that He could rescue us and heal all our pain.
Think about what Jesus experienced when He was here on Earth: His brothers made fun of Him, His parents misunderstood Him, and other kids ignored Him. He was beat up, abused, falsely accused, despised, and kicked out of church. Even His best friends abandoned Him. Then He died the most painful death that the Romans could come up with.
Why did Jesus go through all that? Two reasons:
1) So we can be forgiven of our sins.
2) So you would know that He feels your pain and “sympathizes” with you (Hebrews 4:15).
God feels the sorrow of every family that lost a child in the Texas floods. He feels the pain of everyone who was injured. And He feels the agony of those waiting to find out if their loved ones are still alive. God understands what it feels like to hurt—really badly.
“God is especially present in tragedy,” says Brock Mayer, an Adventist who is doing search-and-rescue work among the flood ruins. He runs Gideon Rescue Company (GRC), a rescue and relief organization that responds to tragedies all over the world. “He shows up through people who help others. He shows up to comfort people in their loss. So many people were out camping by the rivers for the Fourth of July. There should have been over 1,000 people who died in these floods, but there were over 900 rescues. That’s God.”
But Why?
It’s hard to understand why God allows suffering. But there is one fact that pulls back the curtain just a little: We live on a battlefield.
Ever since Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lies, our planet has been a battleground between good and evil. Satan is determined to destroy everything that is precious to God. That includes the little girls at Camp Mystic—and you. Satan is the instigator behind every awful thing that happens in this world.
The Bible never promises that life will be easy or pain-free, even if we follow God. As long as there is sin, there will be pain. But we have Jesus’ promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). That’s a promise you can lean on when life is toughest. And you can look forward to the day when “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17).
Whatever tragedy you are going through, or pain you are feeling, know this: When you are hurting, God is especially close to you. “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). You can talk to Him about whatever you are going through. He will listen to your heart, comfort you, and walk with you through whatever you are facing.
Would you like to understand more about why God allows suffering? This sermon, “Coping Through Tough Times,” with Pastor Doug Batchelor, will help you make sense of the pain in this life.