Psalm 40:5
You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.ESV.
God is good all the time. Even when hurricanes hit land.
We sometimes like to think that God’s business is to protect us from all harm. That we should never experience pain nor discomfort. That every day should be a party without any negative events. Yet when hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and lighting storms come, don’t they reveal our helplessness at the moment? In fact when these overbearing events occur, how do we respond?
Do we blame God for our discomfort? Do we immediately seek ways to control the uncontrollable circumstances? Or do we acknowledge our helplessness before God and seek His immediate leadership of the situation?
Questions arise: When some people lose everything and others escape without any inconvenience, is one group of people more holier than the other? Why does good things happen to bad people and bad things to good people? If God is always good, why does natural disasters occur? Why do people have to suffer, lose their entire belongings, and experience the pain of homelessness?
During times like this I have to remind myself God is in control. Many humans may not believe so because God operates with a greater purpose than the personal satisfaction of one person. We typically see events from our limited perspective rather than God’s eternal, universal view. From the same event, we may suffer while another may be blessed. Could it be there is a greater purpose being worked out here that we just haven’t grasped yet?
In addition, ever notice how life is designed with natural phenomena built into the equation? My meteorologists friends remind me constantly that humanity has not yet learned how to control the weather. We can forecast patterns but we cannot yet manipulate these natural laws in a large scale for our benefit. So the thought of being dependant on a God for our weather is difficult for some people to manage. For a Being to be so powerful to diminish the power of a category five hurricane at will makes one feel very small indeed.
Also God’s plan for mankind is not a human utopia in this age, but a trial run preparing people today for an eternal home tomorrow. When natural disasters occur, God’s love goes into action through the hands and feet of people who understand the need to serve the less fortunate with their blessings. God’s Kingdom moves into action through the various institutions and services designed to lend a helping hand restoring life back to “normality.” If it wasn’t for God’s goodness, disasters would lead to a continual downward spiral of destruction rather than the restoration of humanity.
I am thankful and relieved that IRMA didn’t destroy everything in its path. Yet for those who lost everything, I pray that God leads them to see His abundance and direct their steps to restore all things. For those who were fortunate to escape serious harm, I pray that we find ways to help our neighbors rebuild their lives. For we are in this all together; sharing life’s hardships and challenges, while gaining knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ who is preparing you and I for greater service now and into all eternity.
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Discipleship 360
Author of e-Books:
* Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married
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