A Train Crash in Spain Killed 69 People. Where Is God in a Disaster?

By Dr. Layne McDonald

God is not far away when disaster strikes. The Bible says He stays close to the brokenhearted. Jesus wept at the grave of His friend. He weeps with grieving families today too. In the worst moments of life, God is near, He cares, and He helps us pray when words fail.

What happened

A train collision near Urda, south of Madrid, killed at least 69 people. Urda is a town in Spain, and the crash has shaken the whole country.

About a week after the crash, Spain's transport minister, Oscar Puente, resigned. Families across Spain are grieving the people they lost. Officials are still investigating how the crash happened.

Behind the number 69 are real people. Mothers and fathers. Sons and daughters. Friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Each one was loved. Each one is missed. When we read news like this, it is right to slow down and let our hearts feel the weight of it.

Many of us read a story like this and ask the oldest question there is. Where is God in this? The Bible does not run from that question. It walks right up to it with us.

What does the Bible say?

Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Close is the key word. God does not watch grief from far away. He comes near to the people who are hurting most.

John 11:35 is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, and it may be one of the most tender. It says, "Jesus wept." Jesus stood at the grave of His friend Lazarus, and even though He knew joy was coming, He still wept with the people who were grieving. Tears are not a lack of faith. Jesus Himself cried at a grave.

Romans 8:26 speaks to the moments when grief takes our words away. It teaches that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit prays for us with groans too deep for words. That means you are never truly without a prayer. Even your silence, laid before God, becomes one.

How does a Christian go about this?

We grieve honestly. We pray for the families by the best name we have, which is simply "the families." We let God carry what our hearts cannot. And we become a little more tender with the people around us.

Put it into practice

• Pray today for the families in Spain who lost someone in the crash.

• Pray for the injured, the rescue workers, and all who saw hard things that day.

• Sit with Psalm 34:18 and let God be close to your own broken places too.

• Reach out to one grieving person you know with a kind word or a meal.

• Hold your own family a little closer, and say the loving words out loud today.

• When you have no words to pray, sit quietly with God. He understands silence.

Carry this with you

Friend, if your heart is heavy today, for Spain or for a sorrow of your own, hear this: God is close. Not far. Not cold. Close. Jesus wept, and He weeps with the grieving still. You do not have to carry your pain alone, and you do not have to find perfect words. He is near, and He loves you.

Questions people ask

Why does God allow disasters like this?

We live in a broken world, and the Bible is honest that pain and death are part of it for now. The Bible also tells us God grieves with us and that this brokenness will not last forever. We may not get a full answer this side of heaven, but we do get God's presence, and that is not a small gift.

What can I say to someone who is grieving?

Say less than you think, and mean every word. "I am so sorry. I am here." is enough. Show up, listen, and let them talk or not talk. Your quiet presence often says more than any speech could.

Need prayer right now? Text 1-901-213-7341 and someone will pray with you. Boundless is an online church family for people who cannot get to a building. You can belong here, and we will help you find a local Assemblies of God church near you. Visit boundlessonlinechurch.org.