Granger Smith Reflects on How Suffering Draws Us ‘Nearer to God’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Former country music star Granger Smith is reflecting on what God has taught him about suffering since the death of his son in 2019.
Smith’s son, River, died after accidentally drowning in the family pool. He was 3 years old.
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“I was there,” Smith recalled. “I was 15 feet away from this. I was doing gymnastics with my daughter, and River was playing water gunfight with our son, Lincoln. And somehow he got into our gated locked pool. Within seconds, right behind me while I was doing gymnastics with our daughter, he was in the pool and had inhaled water. Became unconscious. When I pulled him out, I didn’t know CPR, besides what I had seen in the movies, and we lived out in the country.”
He continued “So, it took paramedics 10 minutes to get there. That’s too long to go without oxygen to his little brain, and it ended up being irreversible.”
Now, nearly five years later, Smith shares how God has a plan even amid suffering.
“For reasons that we don’t fully know, God’s plan will always involve suffering in this present world; pain and suffering draw us nearer to God, and God uses that for many purposes,” Smith told The Christian Post. “As a father, I wouldn’t want my children to grow up in a perfect utopia. I want to introduce suffering that I know they can handle so that it produces in them a greater good. Suffering has a way of doing that in all things. It’s not just people; this is how metals are refined, with heat and pressure.”
He continued, “So, why wouldn’t a Heavenly Father, who is far superior to anything I could ever imagine as far as planning, nurturing, caring and providing, also introduce suffering into our lives for the greater good or His greater glory? We see this epitomize itself at the cross when Jesus enters humanity in the flesh to involve Himself in suffering. We have a God who is near to the brokenhearted.”
Through River’s death, he’s seen firsthand how God transforms tragedy into purpose.
“Losing River was the catalyst to the great breakthrough I had in my life,” Smith told Southern Equip. “When I lived through that and stood with my wife, we promised each other that we would find purpose in this pain. Looking back now, we can see God’s hand of providence. A big-God theology was the only comfort that led to any kind of peace and understanding amidst such a tragedy. God is working all things for his glory and that is the first thing that made sense to me before I was even converted. I never use the word ‘accident’ in the book. I don’t believe in accidents; I believe in providence.”
While it’s been a long journey, Smith shared that he and his family are doing “great,” a feeling only God could give them.
“It almost feels unfair to even say that because we’ve been through so much,” he explained. “But it is only by God’s grace that we are doing well. The kids are doing well. Amber and I are doing well. The sun really is shining upon our family right now. We’re in a beautiful season right now. That doesn’t mean that it’s without sadness or without grief, but it does mean that it can coexist with joy.”
Smith has since left the country music scene to pursue ministry full-time.
“I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry,” he said. “This means that me and my family are going to serve our local church.”
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