I’m sure you’re like me, wondering what in the world is going on!
Revolts, wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, the threat of economic and nuclear meltdown… It’s enough to make us want to crawl under a rock and hide! And it’s enough to make us wonder where God is in the midst of it all… There are many attempts at answers to those questions, and many are helpful. The bottom line is that you and I aren’t God. We don’t know and won’t know everything. The issue is not knowing more, but trusting more.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Our own understanding is limited. Let’s trust our God who loves us and is all-powerful. Submit to Him, especially in times of crisis.
And as you submit, let’s remember these words too…
Psalm 46…“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord almighty is with us…”
Certainly the earth has given way and the waters have roared and foamed and the mountains have quaked over the last few weeks in Japan. And yet we can still be confident that God is not dead. Take the time to know deep in your soul that even though it is devastating and you don’t understand, you KNOW THAT HE IS GOD… And then perhaps the most important thing – "the Lord Almighty is with us." Even in tragedy, in the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us. And that makes all the difference.
Below I have pasted an article from H.B. London at Focus on the Family, addressing some of these same issues. Good words from a great man of God…
Also, if you would like to make a donation to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries for disaster relief in Japan, visit www.ncm.org/JapanCrisis.
The world is troubled today over the natural disaster in Japan. Panic seems to be the word people are using in reference to the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant. The radiation levels are rising. The United States has begun evacuating American citizens. So much of what is happening around the world is out of our control. The massive revolts of Muslim people. The uncertain stock market. How do we deal with all of this?
The answer comes as we prepare for Easter.
"As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 'Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?' Jesus said to them: 'Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains'" - Mark 13:3-8).
The disciples must have been troubled by Jesus' words. There wasn't much good news in His message. We don't hear much good news today either and people are troubled. As we look around us, we see so much uncertainty — spiritual wickedness in high places, war and rumors of wars on practically every continent, moral decay at every level and a mind-set that seems to say, "What does it matter anyway?"But are things hopeless? By no means! You see, Easter is the time of the year when we are reminded of who Jesus really is — that the One who has turned our darkness to light 20 centuries ago is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 18:8)! We need not hang our heads in defeat because there is One who has already secured our victory (I Cor. 15:57)! We can look forward — and upward — to the One who is alive, who defeated sin and death and Satan, and who lives and reigns forevermore. He is still the One! His name is Jesus!
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid"
(John 14:27).
(John 14:27).
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