Trust God’s Heart

By now everyone in the world has learned of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that has shattered Japan. On top of the natural disaster, nuclear plants at Fukishimi have exploded, sending radiation and contamination throughout the region. Only time will tell how many people are injured by this radiation. Some, perhaps many, will experience premature death.

Such events have happened before in history. On November 1, 1755 a three minute long earthquake struck Lisbon, Portugal. We now know this earthquake would have rated a 9 on the Richter scale. Buildings shook and fell, leaving massive amounts of rubble. As the earth shook, people fled their homes and other buildings into the streets where gaping holes, some as wide as fifteen feet, suddenly opened in the earth and into which untold numbers were swallowed. Thousands went the Tangus River in the middle of the city, thinking it safe. They were wrong. Within a short time following the quake, an enormous tsunami several feet tall swept into the Lisbon harbor and up the Tangus. Boats, rafts and all those aboard were tossed around like toothpicks by the violent current. A large number of drownings occurred, and the waves caused by the tsunami were later noticed in Britain and north Africa. This event, known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, rates as one of the worst natural disasters of all time. All of Europe and most of the world was shocked. Lisbon, a city with 100,000 residents, had seen half that number very suddenly and tragically wiped away by death. Its buildings lay in ruins, with many precious works of art and history destroyed.

A lot of thought was later given to this tragedy. Whenever something on this magnitude happens, people try to understand. Had God sent it as judgment? Or perhaps there is no God, and it just was “one of those things.” Or maybe God didn’t cause it, but permitted it. Or maybe evil is inherent in the world, and this is an example. Maybe the earthquake and natural disasters are just the result of what we call nature. The French philosopher Voltaire in his work Candide made this last view popular. He proposed that evil surrounds us and we must learn to live with it. His explanation might have satisfied some in France, but it did nothing to help the Portuguese who were stunned, grieving and desperate for a word of hope.

While no one can fully comprehend natural disasters, and so cannot adequately explain them, the scriptures call us to faith in God at such times. It is precisely because we cannot comprehend fully nor explain adequately such mindboggling, numbing events that we must turn to God and find our consolation in Him.

The Biblical character Job is our role model. He lost his family and his possessions. He then lost his health. There was no scientific or philosophical explanation that satisfied him. His friends tried, but failed to solace him with their explanations. They even tried to invoke God in the discourse: “Job you are getting what God thinks you deserve.” Job’s reply was, in essence, “Well, I know God. He is my friend and He is not like this.” It took some time, but eventually Job was proved right. God is not like that.

Toward the end of the book, God replies to Job. God knows what is happening and it is all under His control. It really doesn’t matter whether Job understands it or not. Actually, there is much Job does not nor will ever understand – just like us. Job has a responsibility, and it is not to understand all of God’s ways. It is rather to understand God’s character, God’s heart. His then to trust God’s heart. God will bring good from every situation, and especially one that involves pain.

The disaster striking Japan is mind numbing and any explanations we offer are inadequate. I hope you are praying for the Japanese people. If possible, I hope you will consider helping the churches of Japan during this time by making a donation (I suggest www.teamworld.org and look for Japan Earthquake Relief Fund).

There is only one message we can offer that provides hope: trust God. Trust God in both the good times and the bad. He is good and good will triumph.

When difficulties arise you do not understand,
Trust God’s heart.