Hey friends!  It is so good to be back.  I am so thankful for my time away to just regroup when it comes to these motivations.  I’ll tell you…the hardest part is figuring out a topic (kinda like deciding what’s for dinner!).  Well, while I was away this country had a few things happen…like a hurricane.  And there’s another catastrophic one headed straight for Florida.  We have seen devastation and sadness all over the news.  People missing their loved ones, animals, and everything they have worked for.  Where is God??!  Why would He allow this to happen??  Well, let’s talk about it.  

This is my personal opinion.  But, I feel like when you talk about God and natural disasters together, you have to tread lightly.  Does anyone else feel like that?  I’ll explain.  I never want to lead someone to believe that God is “bad” by not stopping what happened.  But to be fair to the person the disaster impacted, you can see where they would feel abandoned, hurt and lonely.  You could see why they can’t understand why this happened to them and their community when they are a “good” christian.

God isn’t punishing anyone with these disasters.  God doesn’t do that BUT if He did, my guess is He would just punish YOU and not everyone else.  You’re special but not that special.  

In Genesis 1:1, God created the universe and its law of nature.  What does that mean?  Well, if you live in Alabama, you know when a cold and hot front collide, we have the potential of tornados.  Everyone knows that, right?  That’s a law of nature.  As well as James Spann predicts the weather, he is just a man.  God is 100% in control but we are not.  He wants us to know it.  These types of disasters remind us that life is unpredictable and uncertain.  But God is always there to guide us through (Joshua 1:9).  

Could God have prevented this?  Well of course!  He can literally do anything.  But if you are like me and something like this happens, you have to look at it with optimism.  There is a reason for everything.  Yes, even when you have lost everything.  You were meant to go through this.  Will you ever know why?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  But when you get to heaven, ask Him.  He will tell you.  I’m sure Noah asked a lot of questions….

When disasters occur, I look at it differently.  Again, to be fair, I am an outsider looking in so my perspective is different.  One question is why didn’t/doesn’t God intervene?  My question back is how do you know He didn’t?  It can ALWAYS be worse.  If you are alive, it can be worse.  That sounds negative but it is the truth.  But how many times have you seen a tornado drop out of the sky, LEVEL miles and miles and then poof!  Back up in the clouds and never touched that school full of kids.  That was a miracle, right?  That tornado SHOULD HAVE blown right through that school.  No.  That was God.

There are times, disasters are a wake up call.  Do I think they happened so YOU would wake up?  Ummm….let’s just say I think maybe you and several others.  Sometimes when our lives get off track, we forget a few things.  And when something catastrophic happens, we tend to know who to seek.  Kinda like your child when they are scared…they come running to you for comfort and protection.  Well, that is no different than you running to your Father.  And that is EXACTLY what you are supposed to do.

Listen, we live in a fallen world.  We know this and we talk about it every week.  As a christian, what should you do?  It’s ok to grieve for these people.  It’s ok to grieve WITH these people.  We can pray for comfort and healing.  We can volunteer and help if we are able.  We can continue to worship and praise Him despite this!  If Job could continue worshiping, you definitely can as someone looking in.  Don’t allow these disasters to get you down and doubt.  He’s there…just look.

Please keep Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and everyone impacted by these storms in your prayers.  They appreciate it more than you know.

 

Love you all,

Jennifer