“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 NIV
The recent tragic news from the flooding in Texas has caused the age-old question to be asked once again: “Where was God?” Where was God when the floodwaters rose 26 feet in less than an hour, washing away everything in its path including a Christian camp filled with innocent girls? It’s the same question we asked last fall when the rains of Hurricane Helene devastated the mountain communities of North Carolina. Or last January, when the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County burned 9,000 buildings and killed at least 18 people.
Of course, those are just the natural disasters. The news is filled with war in Gaza and Ukraine, famine in Sudan, and the daily tragedies of families losing a loved one to cancer or suicide. Why did these tragedies happen? That I can’t answer; the “why” question will have to wait until we see God face to face. But the “where” question I think I can answer.
Where is God when tragedies happen? Right there in the middle of it. God was there giving courage to the rescuers whose superhuman efforts saved so many lives. God was there holding on to the girl whose grip on the tree branch lasted just long enough for her to be plucked from the raging waters. And God was there crying with the mother who held her son as he died after saving his whole family.
In one of the most moving events in the bible, Mary and Martha are devastated by the death of their brother. A death made all the more painful because they knew Jesus could have done something if only he had been there. And what does Jesus do? He cries with them. It’s the shortest verse in the bible John 11:35. “Jesus wept.” There in the midst of their grief and devastation, Jesus simply shares their pain. He cries. Like we cry for the folks in Texas. But then Jesus does something else. Something only Jesus can do, that changes everything. Jesus calls Lazarus out of his grave and gives him new life.
Where is God in the midst of the Texas disaster? Crying with those who mourn and calling the dead to new life with him. I don’t know why bad things happen. But I do know that we never face them alone. God is with us.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Mark