Wow, what heartache and tragedy…
In times of tragedy and hardship, it seems “only human” to question why God would allow for disaster to happen. But this is where we fall into danger… After all, when we doubt God’s goodness, we doubt His whole nature…
There will always be things in this world that we won’t be able to understand. We will never be able to fully understand natural disasters like the tornados that destroyed parts of Oklahoma earlier this week or tragic incidents like the Sandy Hook shooting. BUT, do you want to know something that we can always be sure of, even if we don’t understand completely?
God is the Creator. (Genesis 1:1)
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
God is who He says that He is. (Numbers 23:19)
God is our hope. (Hebrews 6:18-20)
God is the strength of our hearts (Psalm 73:26).
God is love. (1 John 4:8)
God is our refuge. (Psalm 91)
…and He is so much more…
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When Paul and Silas were traveling from town to town, they strengthened and encouraged their brothers and sisters in Christ, saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:21-22).
Isn’t that so true? We live in a fallen world full of sin, and there are consequences that result due to the presence of sin. Diseases, disasters and death are just some of those consequences. There is no distinction or partiality between believers and non-believers (Matt. 5:45); sin seeks to destroy all of us and separate us from our Heavenly Father (Isaiah 59:2). But it’s faith in Christ that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4), and so the destruction of darkness no longer reigns over those that have called upon Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 6:5-11)…
So to those that have been directly affected by the tornados, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” May His presence bring you comfort, and may He reveal even more of Himself and His goodness to you as you seek Him through this time of tribulation.
To those of us that have not been directly affected, let’s ask ourselves what are the ways that we can strengthen and encourage our brothers and sisters in Oklahoma. Prayers, donations, volunteering, etc.? What are the spiritual gifts that God has equipped you with in order to encourage other members of the body of Christ?
Praying your day is filled with SONshine,
Sarah
