Church: In turmoil, it’s easy to wonder what on Earth is God doing?

But God remains in control

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Two major hurricanes hit the United States. More than a million acres of forest are burning in the northwest. An 8.1 earthquake does severe damage in southern Mexico. I’ve been asked by several people “Where is God in the middle of all of this, and what on earth is He doing?” I have heard several people speculate on what is happening and why it is happening? I have an idea where God is and maybe a little knowledge of what He might be doing.

The Bible tells us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Some people believe that this may be signs of the end of the world or the second coming of Christ. That may or may not be true. That’s God’s business. I have found over the years as I have studied the Bible that God is a God of today. Anything He does or allows, happens so that we might learn something about Him or something about ourselves.

Tragedy and disaster come into our lives, whether we are ready or not. It may come to us because of bad choices we have made. It may come because of a bad choice someone else has made that affects us, or it may come in the form of a natural disaster — nobody’s fault. 

When disaster comes, it reveals the character of us as individuals, as a community or as a nation.

As we have watched the television accounts of the recent hurricanes, we have seen people from outside the affected area bringing their boats, their tools, their expertise or just their presence to help rescue people and restore some sense of normal to a very abnormal situation. We see and hear many stories of heroism that bring us to tears. There are no signs of racism, sexism or any other isms. People just step in and help whoever needs it.

Because the nation was founded and built on Judeo-Christian principles, written into our early documents and our laws, we have been raised to behave as a people like Christians would behave, even if we don’t practice Christianity. We practice generosity when we see suffering. We feel a level of compassion and empathy that God encourages us throughout His word to embrace and practice as we love Him and love each other.

The truth is that, when disaster strikes, God is everywhere. He is in the midst of the tragedy, compelling the right people to be at the right place at the right time. He shows us His love by not bringing more into our lives than we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He brings people into our lives to provide comfort.

Whenever we see tragedy in our country, we respond as a Christian community would. We respond to tragedy in other nations when they have floods or earthquakes. Nations that deny Judeo-Christian government do not respond in like manner. 

There are many Cubans living in Southern Florida, but Cuba sent no aid. There were Muslims affected by the hurricanes, yet not one of the many Muslim nations offered any kind of support.

God is in the midst of tragedy. We have seen it here in Page. When someone is suffering from cancer or other serious medical needs, we hold car washes, eat Navajo tacos or buy things at silent auctions, because God has put a level of compassion in our hearts for our neighbors. We provide shelter for victims of violence, soup kitchen for the hungry and a food bank for those in need — all things Christ modeled for us as He walked through His ministry on this earth.

When people try to take advantage of their neighbors during a disaster, through scamming or through price gouging, God raises the people necessary to deal with the problem. 

We don’t like injustice, just as Christ also doesn’t. God is in the midst of tragedy every step of the way. Can we open our hearts and our eyes to see Him at work in our lives?