How to Recover from a Natural Disaster

See what help God offers you…

Are you dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster? Will you find an answer from God as to why this happened? Probably not. And if someone tries to give you an answer, you should be skeptical of their explanation.

In these moments, in these situations, “Why did this happen?” does not seem to be a question that God answers. It might be because if he tried to explain, we wouldn't understand it anyway.

Questions that God will answer however are these: Can we rely on God? Will it do us any good to go to him for help?

Definitely yes. It may feel like nothing is bigger than what you have just experienced. But God is bigger. Despite its power, God is more powerful. While it came and went, God is and will always be there to help you.

What does God offer? Strength. Hope. Guidance. Comfort. He can give you the ability to face the next hour, the next day, and beyond.

Paul, one of Jesus' disciples, wrote about life-threatening difficulties he and others were enduring. He talked about God protecting them.

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…"¹ "For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts…"²

How does God do that? He does it much the same way a friend will put their arm around you and say something to you that gives you courage and comforts you. God is capable of speaking to us, if we will go to him. We open his Word, the Bible, and he speaks to us on a very personal level.

But perhaps you don't feel completely comfortable going to God. You might be dealing with so many emotions, and you're still trying to sort out what part of your anger and frustration should be directed at God. Or maybe you just feel so lost that you're not sure God has noticed you, that he is aware of you.

Whatever your situation, there is a reality that is unchanging: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”³

God is very aware of you, and aware of your needs and hurts. And he invites you to rely on him.

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him [who acknowledge him] on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”⁴

You do not need to be strong all on your own.

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."⁵

How can he give you rest? He can carry your burdens. He can shoulder your problems, because his strength is not exhausted.

He can give you direction, because he knows the future and can guide you through it. God assures us, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."⁶

God gently asks you to trust him. He holds out a hand to you, to carefully lift you, to restore your hope. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."⁷

There is nothing you need to bring to him. He asks us to come empty-handed, and that might be exactly how you feel right now anyway. Nothing to promise to him. Nothing to offer him. And that's fine, because it is God offering you a new way to rebuild your life, not alone, but in relationship with him.

Maybe you have not lived in such a way that you think God would accept you. None of us, not a single person, has lived a holy life. Not according to God's standards. The Bible says that we all sin, we all fall short of God's glory and righteousness.

We don't earn God's acceptance, nor do we need to. Jesus, who is God in human form, sacrificed his life, to pay for our sin.

He now offers us full acceptance and an intimate relationship with God.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him … might have eternal life."⁸

No matter what your life has been like, no matter what little attention you may have given to God, he offers you complete forgiveness and a relationship with him. He offers to be your God and walk with you in this life, providing light in the darkness, strength and hope for the future.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."⁹

Do you want your life to proceed with his light, with his guidance, with an awareness of his love for you? Then ask him into your life right now and begin the relationship with God that he intended for you to have.

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him."¹⁰

Here is how you can go to him right now:

“Jesus, I am feeling lost and you offer to be my help and my God. Forgive me for the sin in my life, the many times I have lived distant from you. Thank you for paying for my sin, for fully forgiving me, and offering me a relationship with you. I open the door of my heart and right now ask you to come into my life. Thank you for accepting me. I ask you to direct my life, not only through this time, but also throughout my life. Thank you for this relationship with you. Amen.”

Footnotes: (1) 2Corinthians 4:8,9 (2) 2Corinthians 4:6 (3) Psalms 46:1 (4) Psalms 33:18-20 (5) Matthew 11:28 (6) Nahum 1:7 (7) Psalms 34:18 (8) John 3:16 (9) John 8:12 (10) Revelation 3:20

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