I woke up this morning in an extremely warm bed. I was comfortable and simply wanted to keep sleeping. The sounds of activity and life pervaded the rooms and hallways in my home. The sounds of life in my home prompted me to get up, brush my teeth and head downstairs. The smell of pancakes hung in the air. Children laughing and talking, excited with anticipation for a fun breakfast. A morning that belonged on the cover of “Good Living” magazine existed before my eyes and invaded my senses. But it didn’t take long for a darker reality to set in. In the midst of a very happy morning, there was this…
- “Worried parents seek out kids after tornado devastates Oklahoma town.”
- Mother of a 17-year old, epileptic daughter said, “I don’t know where she is.”
- “Photos detail the carnage…”
- “‘Mindboggling’ scene at Oklahoma University Medical Center.”
- Oklahoma tornado leaves ‘very graphic’ devastation at ‘pancaked’ elementary school.”
The headlines are easily enough to jar you out of your reality. To take you away from pancakes and warm beds, laughter and fun, to a place where parents are asking where there children are. Wondering if they will ever see them alive again. Hoping and praying that underneath the next piece of twisted concrete and brick, there daughter or son will be there, alive. Moments like this make us ask questions. Questions like…
Why did this happen? Why did God allow this? Why didn’t God stop this? Why didn’t God…
I wish I had answers to those questions for those who are hurting. For those who are still searching for loved ones in the midst of a pile of rubble. I don’t know why. I’m not sure that an answer to this question would satisfy us anyway. Think about it. Is there really an answer that a human mind can possibly fathom that gives reason to something devastating like the loss of a child? The loss of so many lives so senselessly? None that I can think of. The one thing that can bring hope during a tragedy like this is not an answer, but someone close to us. Enter God.
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
God comes close to us in our worst and most tragic pain. When our hearts break and we have no answers. When we have run out of words to describe our pain. The Spirit of God speaks to God on our behalf when we have nothing left to say and our words simply become a deep groaning in our souls that we can’t even put into language.
Romans 8:26 – “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
When we are at our worst, God is at His best. His grace is sufficient for us. His strength is perfected in our weakness. Our God is not only close to us when we hurt, but it is also when He does His best work.
Many will be called to action. Maybe it’s to collect clothing for children who now only own what they are wearing. Perhaps it will be to take vacation time to travel to the affected areas and serve, clean, or help rebuild as so many have after previous tragedies. If you feel so moved we’d like to hear about it. We don’t have any direct connections in the affected areas yet, but if you are feeling called, let us know and we’ll do what we can to connect you.
Others will be called to give. To donate money to help those who suffered so much. If this is you, we encourage you to give to an organization which provides support in Christ’s name. Yes, it is “noble” to give just for the sake of giving. But if it’s Christ that compels you to sacrifice for others, give Him the credit. We recommend Samaritan’s Purse as one possible way to give. There are others.
Finally, we should all be in prayer. Don’t feel you have to know all the right things to pray. Simply ask God to do His thing. To comfort the hurting. To heal the broken. To wrap His arms around all who were affected. And to lead His people to His hands and His feet through the coming days and weeks.