Where is God When Disaster Strikes?

A visiting pastor spoke in our evening service last night and gave some timely insight from Luke 13:1-3 to the question "where is God when disaster strikes?" In the aftermath of the devastating tsunami that hit Japan, many people are stopping to consider what has happened and why.


When Jesus was asked to help his disciples make sense out of a tragedy that killed many people, his response called them to do three things:
1. Consider their own mortality.
2. Consider their own accountability.
3. Consider their own eternity.


We live in an age where people are tempted to think that death is rare, but it is common and life is desperately temporary. We will all die. The Scriptures teach that after that all will face judgement. The disciples wrongly thought that those who suffered a tragic death did so because they were more sinful than those who escaped. That is wrong. Thankfully, though all die, not all will perish (spend eternity separated from God and suffering punishment for their sins). Christ came to die and secure for sinners a righteousness that will be accepted before God as perfect and sufficient for any who trust in Him. There is no hope for salvation in any other!


All this should cause us to live a life of continual repentance and gratefulness for the Gospel! We must never wander away from the daily importance of what Christ has done for us, but stay camped at the foot of the cross. That is where our hope lies. We must each day awake and preach the Gospel to ourselves, lest we become self-righteous and forget the gracious love of the Savior who gave his life for undeserving sinners like all of us. Nothing will kill your love for Christ quicker than your own self-righteousness. What do we have that He hasn't given us? O, how we need Him!


When we consider tragedies and disasters in the world side by side with our belief in the sovereign control of God, it should cause us to renew our rest in Him. Put away fear and anxiety! Your sovereign God is merciful and gracious. He is awake and on duty.


Psalm 46 is a wonderfully comforting passage to remind us that God is fully in control and reigning over our world. We can put our hearts at ease in Him.


"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and
thought the mountains should slip into the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam; thought its mountains quake at
its swelling pride...Come, behold the works of the Lord,
who has wrought desolations in the earth...
Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."

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Taking a Break

Whew!!! Though I find it hard to believe, we have made it to Spring Break once again! The time between the starting line back in Sept. and this milestone marker has flown by. We will have a week off from our studies, and enjoy some special day trips with Mr. Wonderful hopefully (if the weather improves).
This has really been an encouraging school year so far. I have seen some areas of progress in my children that have made me rejoice, and shown me that God is faithful to answer prayer. I am also enjoying the fruit that has come from requiring hard work of my children. It is so easy to feel like giving up on the things in homeschooling that are challenging, but to press on, depending on the Lord, and asking Him to help us, brings blessing.
I also cherish all the time that I get to enjoy with my children, and especially feel what a privilege that is with my teens. I can feel the clock ticking, and I know these fleeting years with all of them still at home will be over one day. I am seeing God's work in their hearts, causing them to love Him and driving them to even want to share their faith with others and for that I'm extremely grateful.

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Praying for Japan

Yesterday we watched the aerial video images that were captured as the tsunami swept over Japan. The scenes of overwhelming destruction were horrifying and seemed surreal. We could see cars trying to outrun the oncoming waves behind them, only to be overtaken by another wave that came from a different direction. Real people were dying as the camera continued recording. It broke our hearts for the people of Japan. Finally, our 9 year old son said quietly, "I guess God wants everyone to know how powerful He is."

The devastation we witnessed made us pray for the people in Japan, that God would use this catastrophic event to bring many souls to salvation. Thousands have died, but for the people who have survived I am praying that their eyes will be opened to their great need for a Savior. The mighty God who can unleash an unstoppable wave of death is the same God who tenderly offered His only precious Son to die a hideous death on the cross, so that people in Japan can cry out to Him and be saved.

I found a fascinating passage in Ezekiel 33:11 this morning. It is a message of hope and comfort to anyone, but my thoughts are on the Japanese as I read these words of the Lord: "Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!'"

There is a very moving prayer for the people of Japan by John Piper on the Desiring God blog this morning. Click here to read it.

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