Life’s tragedies are unpredictable. How can we face the unthinkable?
As I watched news reports on the destructive earthquake and tsunami that wiped out Japan’s coastline of homes and communities, I couldn’t help but wonder: how could I withstand such tragedy?
One woman tearfully recounted the horrific tale of being swept away on a tatami mat, while losing her daughter in the waves that splintered her home into rubble. An unconscious image of my two little boys and hubby being swept away from my arms flashed in my mind. My lips quivered and heart trembled with fear.
Even with our advanced technology, an earthquake specialist confessed — “Earthquakes are simply unpredictable.”
The earliest warning we can get in advance of an oncoming earthquake is a 10-15 second notice.
The Unthinkable
I live in earthquake country out here in California, near a major fault line. I am God’s child, but I am not guaranteed protection from life’s tragedies.
Even if I reasoned myself into the realistic probabilities of sustaining such natural disasters, I know that life is equally as unpredictable for me: health, finances, and basic material possessions. Even my family and my dreams.
How could I face the unthinkable?
If I try to imagine having the faith to face any of it now, my confession is that I can’t.
But I find great rest and confidence knowing that I will — because Jesus will be there for me.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need.“
~ Hebrews 4:16
Where We Rest
Jesus will give us the grace at the time of need.
We may not comprehend how we would have the strength or grace to sustain any of life’s losses.
But at the moment we need it, God will be faithful.
This truth is where my heart, mind and body rests.
Our lives are not our own, but our spirits and whole being is safe in God. So is our loved ones.
We cannot predict what will happen to us in the near and far future, but we can count on Jesus being there.
Let us pray for the people of Japan in their time of need.
May they find God through the hands of those who are there to aid them physically, the supplies en route to sustain them, and the prayers keeping their plight on our hearts. Let us pray the believers there experience mercy and grace in greater measure, as they face the journey ahead with Jesus and each other.
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the seal;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”
~ Psalm 46:1-3
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What are your thoughts on the earthquake and tsunami that has hit Japan?
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17 Comments
Hi Bonnie! This is really touches my heart…
It frightens me when I think what if I were in their place… what if the big waves are coming and I, together with the people I love, couldn’t run away… But I have Jesus and I can call on to Him anytime. But what about the Japanese people? Many of them don’t know Jesus. It brings me to tears to think that what if I am in that situation and I don’t know God and have no one to call on to.
This was really an opener for me and my family. My Dad had been a pastor in Japan and my youngest sister a missionary for a short time there. The country is in great need of Jesus. But many don’t know Him and few of us are going there to share the good news.
Let’s keep them in our prayers…and that they find Jesus amidst all these things. Blessings!
Cathy, sounds like God’s heart has touched and blessed Japan through your family. Yes, it is a difficult spiritual soil there – less than 1% are believers.
After we could breathe a sigh of relief here on Oahu, I took time to watch updates on television and on social networks. It was mind boggling to see how epically catastrophic the damage is in Japan. I had to remind myself that what I was seeing was not special effects in a movie…that people of families, children were being affected.
We all wore red to let each other know we’re praying for Japan together. I’m so humbled and grateful for the many people and organizations all over the world that are praying, fund raising, and organizing different efforts to help Japan.
I stand in agreement with that verse you shared…confidence, mercy, and grace in this time of need.
Jeri, so relieved to hear the tsunami did not make it’s way to the Hawaiin Islands.
An insightful read about tragedy. We never really know when tragedy will hit our life. In fact, Scripture tells us that there is no immunity from nature’s wrath just because we are in Christ. So all we do do is cling to the Rock and trust before the tragedy, through it and afterwards
Beautiful put, David.
I think about how I would handle tragedy a lot when things like the tsunami in Japan happen. Right now it seems like the heartbreak would be too much. But I love what you said about God giving us the grace we need in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). How true. We can rest in the truth that His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Thanks, Bonnie, for the reminder!
Thanks, Jennifer!
What a perfect prayer, Bonnie. It’s been so hard for me to know how to pray in this great tragedy. Quite simply, it’s been, “Jesus, help them!” It’s unimaginable to me that I could go through this kind of thing. I don’t know how I would get through it except through the mercy and grace of God. I think that I will not fear my death when it comes because God will take me home, but would I have that confidence in the face of something like this? I don’t know, and I pray I never have to.
Thanks for sharing, Cheri.
The videos are incredulous but real and I think of them often in the day. Wondering who comforts them, if they have a place of refuge in the One sure hightower. And hoping the hands and feet of Him greet them in a wave of people coming to their aid and grief and eventual rebuilding.
Moving heart-prayer words, Tammy. Thank you.
As the news reports first panned across my television screen, I sat numb…staring at the unbelievable destruction. It seemed like a clip from a disaster film. ‘Another tragedy’ my mind transmitted to my consciousness. Sitting there, I felt I should have an emotional response, but my mind did not generate any at first. As I read about it and saw more personal reports of the people and how they were coping, the emotion percolated up. Tears welled and my heart grieved and wondered…why. I saw the beautiful oriental faces brave and grief stricken. My mind felt a little more of their pain and I prayed and thought what can I do half a world away? The answer came ‘pray and send money and pray some more’. In times like this, I think most of us wonder how we would handle such a disaster and can’t imagine how. Thanks Bonnie for bringing your thoughts to us and helping us look at it in a spiritual, compassionate way. Unpredictable events in life can shake our world apart and the only way we can be ready is one day at a time leaning on the God of love soaking in His grace and strength.
Dee, thank you for sharing your words of comfort.
You have had me thinking about responding to life’s tragedies all day and I finally blogged about it…”running into the mushroom cloud.” You always tickle my brain!
So sad and encouraged by John Pipers blog about it. Also a wake up call to be active in sharing my faith more.
Great post, Bonnie. I think we can also prepare for the unthinkable by giving and supporting someone who’s going through it when we aren’t. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. We may be strong now so we have to lend our strength and encouragement, not with trite words or condescension, but genuine compassion. Then when we face our own unthinkable circumstances, God will be with us and others will step into position to uphold as well. He is such a wonderful God to provide all that we need.
Thanks for this.