Where is God in a Disaster?

Where is God in a Disaster? 

In some circles the most current argument going on is, “Does God cause disasters to get a people’s attention or to punish them?” Jesus deals with something similar in Luke 13:4. He seems to indicate that the phrasing of the question as it is put forth is all wrong. The truth is we do not live in a perfect world but rather a world broken naturally, spiritually, and relationally by sin, but within the crises of that same world God’s glory will shine forth.

We awakened this morning to the news of a terrible disaster in Las Vegas; a madman disturbed enough to the point where he attempts to kill as many people as he can before the police stop him. Were those fifty-plus dead and almost four hundred wounded singled out by God because they were sinners? Absolutely not! However, make no mistake, sin was at work and it dealt out death and horror through the man who did the shooting.

Are the people of our own gulf coast, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico deserving of the pounding they took from two hurricanes? Are the people of Kenya such sinners that parts of the country have had little appreciable rainfall for five years? Few rational persons would entertain such a belief. This leaves us to either believe that random things happen, both good and bad, and that is just the way life is and there is no meaning to be found in any of it. There is no God either behind or in these things. A faith response would be to say along with Paul, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…” That is, even in the midst of great danger God (who is not causing the danger by the way) is in the midst of it, and will bring something better out of the ashes of catastrophe.

No well person believes that our world is perfect or ever will be until Christ returns and heals all that is broken. In the meantime, where is God and his grace and love in the face of the awful things that have happened lately? The answer is God was and is present and everywhere. Our media makes little mention of the Christian community response teams that rushed to storm damaged and are doing a job that only a believing community could do. God was present at the shooting in the form of those who shielded others with their own bodies and carried wounded and frightened people they generally did not know, away from the gunfire. God is present in the chaplains and pastors who are comforting the wounded and bereaved and will in time bury the dead.

 What will come out of all this will not be more dark nights of terror, but something better and new. Communities once separated will come together and stronger bonds between people will be built. Hopefully, building codes will be strengthened. People may well find out that God had been with them all along and will renew or accept the faith. I am constantly reminded of something Bishop Zakayo said to me, “Andy, in Kenya people pray to God because there is no one else to turn to, and when we pray we expect something to happen.”

The potential for disaster will always be out and about in our world, but in the hearts and minds of the people of Christ there will also be present the face and hands of Christ Himself; a potent presence of prayer that expects answers and people who are willing to fight the dark forces desperate to crush the soul and bring despair.

Perhaps the lesson here is that in the light of the reality of disaster, whether regionally, locally, or personally, it seems that Christ and his promises remain the final reason for hope. As Christ suffered so will we, and as Christ impossibly triumphed, we, through Him, will also.

Andy +