I am writing this on the day after the deadly tornado that hit Oklahoma.
My heart is burdened and I feel the need to spend extra time in prayer today praying for our neighboring state. I was born and raised in Oklahoma and can remember the May 3, 1999, tornado that ravished Moore. The power of tornadoes is one of those things on this earth that I am amazed at. There is so much energy that is wound tight in those funnel clouds.
When we see this type of natural disaster it can cause us to have natural questions. Why would God allow such a horrible event to happen? When I saw that two elementary schools were involved I was hoping and praying that kids and adults were not in them.
Sadly, we now know that they were inside of those schools. A natural disaster can conjure up many different emotions.
So how should we respond to disasters? Whether it be natural, terrorist or personal tragedy, how should Christians respond?
First, we should pray. That seems simple enough but there are times when these things happen and I get sucked into watching them unfold on the television or the computer screen.
Before I know it, time has passed and my heart is extremely heavy.
Prayer changes things.
People definitely need our prayers and we need to take our request to the Father. These are times when we stand in the gap for someone that we don’t even know and pray over them. We pray for the missing to be found alive; we pray for grace and mercy on those that have lost loved ones; we pray for the safety of first responders;
we pray for wisdom for our leaders; and we pray for God to receive glory.
Second, we listen. There will be times when disasters hit our own home or our neighborhood and we need to be able to listen.
Sometimes you and I willnot have the words to even speak, but our presence and prayers will speak volumes. We also listen for physical needs that can be met. As we see things online or on television, we hear of needs that can be met. At times this will be money, at other times it will be water, clothing, etc.
Third, we act in love.
If we only hear of needs but never act then we are not showing the love of Christ. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17) Love is an action, it requires us to move. The beauty that will rise out of the ashes is the way that Christians will move quickly to love their neighbors.
The truth is that God is sovereign and I do not have an answer for all the disasters that happen in this world. I do know that there is hope that is found in Jesus. I have seen and experienced the power of prayer when I have walked through the storms of life.
People have been there to listen and pray for me.
The love of God has been shown to me through the acts of people that have met physical needs for my family.
God is good even in times of trouble. God is still on His throne even in natural disasters, terrorist events and personal storms of life. So, today I encourage you to pray, listen and move.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)◊◊◊
Editor’s note: Michael Smith is the youth pastor of First Baptist Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Church, Pages 2 on 05/29/2013