TO CHEW ON: “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:10-11
If you have ever been inconvenienced or endangered by a storm, fire, earthquake or other natural disaster, you’ll know it can be a terrifying, life-changing event. Who can forget the devastation of the Boxing Day Tsunami of December 2004 when entire seaside villages were swept away and whole nations traumatized, the Haiti earthquake of 2010, or the tornadoes that struck parts of the United States in November, 2013?
These kinds of disasters happen every day somewhere on earth. So how can the psalmist David say, at the end of a recitation of times the “voice of the Lord” breaks through with devastation, “The Lord will bless His people with peace”?
Some things being blessed with peace in the face of natural disasters doesn’t mean:
- That those who love God will be spared these “acts of God.”
- That such events, when they hit us, won’t cause physical and emotional pain. Look at Job. After news of one calamitous event after another climaxed by the death of all of his children in a wind storm, he tore his robe and shaved his head – signs of extreme grief (Job 1:13-22).
One of the things it does mean is that even in our tragedy, God will stand with us, helping us cope and put together the pieces of our lives again. It’s all part of the process of maturing us for the destiny He has planned for us (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:28-29, 35-36). And should it mean that the worst that could happen does, and He takes my life or yours, then our earthly assignment is done and our heavenly one can begin!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, I pray for Your perspective on the disasters of nature. Whether it’s a storm that simply knocks out electricity for a few hours, or a flood, earthquake, or fire that takes my home or my loved one’s life, please give me Your peace. Amen.
MORE: If God allows weather which devastates and destroys homes and lives, though He has the power to stop it, isn’t He then the author of evil? It’s a question that has troubled thinkers for a very long time. That’s one of the questions author Mike Mason grapples with in his children’s fantasy The Blue Umbrella – (link goes to my review of the book, which I recommend as a good read).
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