I pray today’s devotion gives some direction and peace for your heart and for you to share with others as we see and are affected by the catastrophic flooding in central Texas.
Why?
Being on vacation while our communities in central Texas navigate the force of flooding and the devastation of death has been difficult. Tragedy happens every day around the world, but when it happens close to home, it hits home more deeply.
You realize life can change in an instant.
Life can end in an instant.
To my knowledge, we and no direct contacts of our Crosspoint community have been affected in a negative way by the flooding. While we thank God for his grace and mercy shown to us, tragedies can create questions that are hard to answer.
Questions like…”Why?”
Why did the Lord allow a catastrophic amount of rain to fall?
Why did girls at such a young age at a Christian camp experience trauma and death that would seem unbecoming of children that age?
Why did it happen at night and with such little warning?
Why?
You probably have your own questions.
But understanding the reason why is truly challenging. Here’s why.
We see the destruction, devastation and death. None of this seems to have anything good in it. Nothing.
So where do we turn? What answers can we give? What hope is there to share?
Where do we turn?
Perhaps the image that resonates is the child running to their parents to find a hug, a word of comfort and the security to know that things will be OK.
We can run to our God to find a hug, a word of comfort and the security to know that things will be OK.
We don’t understand the reason behind tragedy, but we are invited to let God carry us through it.
We don’t understand the reason behind tragedy, but we are invited to trust the mind and heart of God.
We don’t understand the reason behind the tragedy, but we are invited to have confidence that somehow God will work his good for the people and communities involved in this heart-breaking catastrophe.
How do we know? Simply consider what God has said.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The grief is real. The pain is deep. But God invites us to turn to him in trust that his ways for our lives are always the best…even when he allows pain and hardship to come.
The heart ache is real. But God invites us to give every burden to him. 1 Peter 4:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
For sure, we may not fully know why God has and is allowing this to happen. Satan wants to use it to doubt God’s goodness, blame him for tragedy, and lead us to doubt God’s promise. Remember this: (1 Peter 5:8) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
For today, find comfort in this verse: (Isaiah 41:10) “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”.
Apply: Spend as much time in prayer today for the victims of the flooding as you do scrolling facebook to see the latest updates on the flooding.
Prayer: Lord, we simply ask for your mercy to find survivors, your peace to fill the grieving, and your strength to power those searching. Open our eyes to see opportunities to serve our fellow-man and give comfort to those in tears. Let your promises flood our hearts to navigate us and others through the challenging weeks ahead. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.