This past Monday, I would imagine all of us saw the horrific images coming out of Oklahoma City after the EF5 tornado ripped apart almost 20 miles of suburban neighborhoods. In the path of the storm were two schools, a hospital, and a crowded theater. Not to mention the thousands of homes left in ruin.
As someone who believes in a sovereign, almighty God who has created all things...including the weather...my first thoughts were "Why?" Overtly evil things, such as bombings and terror attacks, are often attributed to Satan still having a foothold in this world. However, I think natural disasters are harder to explain. How do we watch these things unfold on our televisions and still have faith in God's goodness? How do we come to worship Him in times of natural tragedy?
What should I do? How do we respond?
Here's how I am going respond:
1) I am going to continue to praise and worship my God because he has proven himself faithful time and time again in my life...even in the midst of darkness.
2) I will continue to believe death and evil do not have the final answer, and that Jesus has defeated them, once and for all, on the cross and through his resurrection.
3) I will lament with the families and pray for those who have lost everything. I will confidently pray that they will experience God's redeeming and restorative love and power in their lives, even in the midst of losing everything.
4) I will worship with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind with confident expectation that God is still in control and that he is still good.
I don't think we will ever be able to answer that big question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" There are some things we might never be able to understand. However, the Bible I read and more importantly the God I experience daily tells me that God is always faithful.
One of the things I hear pastors, especially worship pastors, say is "This morning as we worship, let's just put all of our cares and worries aside..." Or perhaps they will say "Let's sing this song smiling and rejoicing in God..." I have said these things before...I will, in ignorance, probably say them again. However, this week, come (or go) to worship with whatever you have whether that be happiness, trust, anger, bitterness, doubt, fear, whatever! Bring everything you have to worship this week and lay it before the throne of God.
At GtCoC this week, we are going to start our service with a song called "This is My Father's World" as a reminder of God's sovereignty. The last stanza (my favorite) of the song goes like this:
This is my Father's world,
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong
Seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,So this week, as you lift your worship to God, take all you have and cast it at the feet of Jesus.
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died will be satisfied
And earth and heaven be one.
Song Set: Passion
This is My Father's World
Listen to Our Hearts
The Heart of Worship
My Jesus I Love Thee
Why Did My Savior Come to Earth
Be Thou My Vision
Light the Fire
Restore my Soul
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