01/16/10

Death.

It is a part of life.

It is a part of life that is not pleasant.

This past week we have seen death on a large scale in Haiti.

My heart has broken for those people. One minute they were going about their daily lives and the next, their world was turned upside down.... almost literally.

My mother's heart broke this morning when I saw the video of an 11 year old girl caught in the rubble. She had finally been freed from the rubble, but because of lack of medical care she died an hour later. It tore at me and I can only glimpse from my own feelings how those families are feeling right now.

When things like this occur it is so easy to say, "WHY, GOD?"

How could Someone Who loves us so much allow such bad things?

It isn't a question of a vindictive spirit. In learning more and more about the Lord's character, I don't see that. I see a Father Who holds us all lovingly in His hands. Who sees a much bigger picture than we can ever see because HE is bigger than us.

God isn't in a box, although we put Him there quite frequently. God is in control of what is going on in Haiti right now just as He was in control of my day where I ran a couple of errands with the kids, worked on school projects and "went on" with my life while those people are suffering greatly.

I cannot comprehend the mind of God. None of us can and we shouldn't.

What He is teaching me is to trust Him at ALL times. Trust Him even when the world is dark and I don't feel I can move another step. Trust Him that He knows the cries, the fears, the sadness and HE IS THERE.

He is there right now in Haiti. He has never left those people. After all, He sent His Son to die for them. He knows the pain of losing a loved one. He knows the feeling of anguish. He HAS walked where we walk.

I have been studying Romans 8 recently. I have never realized until now just how powerful that chapter is. Here are a few verses from that chapter (NASB) that can go with any struggle in life:

18 - for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

22 - For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

26 - And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

32 - He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37 - But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

38 - For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39 - nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, God IS in control right now.

God was in control last Tuesday when that earthquake hit.

He loves all.

He is there.

He will cause good to come out of this.

We just have to TRUST and wait on His timing.

If you would like to know of reputable places to send money to help Haiti, visit my friend Sandy's blog and she has posted information.