Triumph vs Disaster

There is a common belief out there that if we Triumph we are good, we're on God's side, He likes us. However, if we're met with Disaster, we somehow fall short, God has lifted His hand from us for some reason, He's disappointed.

Well, there's a big problem with this school of thought. You see, both Triumph and Disaster are, as Kipling writes, impostors! The goal of both is the same, to get us to look at circumstances. You see, it doesn't matter what circumstances come our way - they ALWAYS change. It's what all of creation displays for us every day!
There's day and night; summer and winter; life and death. All of these examples of Triumph and Disaster playing out don't tell us about good and bad, right and wrong. Is life right when the sun's up, but is wrong when it's dark? How about when a spider eats a mosquito... is it wrong that the mosquito dies, or is it right that the spider can go on living?
No, the Triumph and Disaster of creation don't teach us morality, nor do they display God's favor. Instead, this dynamic of Triumph and Disaster tells us about a wonderful, creative God who has a perfect design.

I am currently reading Journey of Desire by John Eldridge. He has realized that the dynamic of Creation is put there by God to remind us, to point us to the Hope that resides in us all. The Disasters we see in the world around us - be it a gazelle falling prey to a cheetah, or the natural disasters we've been reading and hearing about in our news - remind us of a fallen Eden. And the Triumphs are set up to show us that there is Redemption. God will one day, and is in the process even now, restore Eden to it's original Glory... and greater!

We cannot be distracted from eternity by a deceiving attitude about Triumph and Disaster. The truth is that God's Hand is NEVER lifted from us. He knows when times are though, and he's probably lead us to many of these trials. But, don't despair that God is cruel, for it's only in these Disastrous times that we can be weathered and polished. And, when Triumph finally does come our way, it's a time for rest, for growth.
The thunderstorms rage and blow away all the pretty flowers; but, then the sun shines, and those blossoms return in even greater number. God cast us out of Eden and into an Age of Disaster; however, there will be a time when the Son shines once again, and we'll stand in Eternal Triumph. Though, we won't focus on the triumph; but, on the One who has made us face Disaster, the One who makes us see Triumph.

As Paul wrote to the Thessalonicans, we should "give thanks in all circumstances."(5:18) For, it's not the circumstances that matter - they'll change, no matter what. However, we can be assured that God is with us, and that He is - even now - working everything out for Good.