The Event ~ God's Wrath

I sit here being thankful for living in this isolated little valley tucked down among the low-lying hills of western Nebraska, where we are so often removed from the glamour, excitement, newest and latest of the rest of the world, and more often than not, missing the severe weather that is turning the rest of the nation and the world into  disaster zones.

Week after week, year after year, we listen to and watch the news of devastation destroying communities, families, lives, and possessions  across the nation and the world, from hurricanes like Katrina in Louisiana and hurricanes in Florida, tornados recently tearing the state of Alabama apart, the sunamis destroying small countries on the other side of the world, earthquakes in Japan,  fires and floods in California,  the Mississippi flooding out millions of farmers' cropland and  communities along the boundaries of that mighty river; and now today seeing vivid pictures on the news of the mass destruction of Joplin, Missouri at the hand of the most powerful and  deadly single tornado in history.   And the weather experts promise more to come. . . .

We cannot control the weather!  The weather is a force of its own.  Does God allow this destruction on the face of the earth  because He is so saddened by the abandonment of people who reject Him, the governments that have eliminated Him from schools, and eliminated the right to share prayer openly.   Is God showing his wrath because people don't  acknowledge Him as the creator, their savior; because people don't commune with Him and include them in their lives; because of rejection and people choosing other inanimate sources to invest their heart and soul into?  (inanimate: not endowed with life or spirit; lacking consciousness; lacking power of motion.)   

I'm not grouping all people together in one category, because there are many, many Christian believers and prayer warriors who are part of the kingdom of God here on earth.    And many of  those real Christians are among those suffering in these fierce storms of nature.    Isn't it ironic how many people who don't include prayer and God in their life will turn to prayer and/or plead to the one true  God for grace and mercy and help only when they personally are affected by tragic events? 

"God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.  We will never regret that kind of sorrow.  But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death."

Even the news media shows clips and video of devastated people  turning to prayer following devasting events.  And the news media are not avid promoters of God and prayer.   It is a known fact that  trials and  devastation of lives and homes can turn more people to God than to not.  Is this God's way of rebuilding his Kingdom here on earth?  "Trust me and know that I am God!"   

It is amazing when people who have rejected God will turn to Him only when they are so far down and out and have exhausted all their own "fixes", and tried all their own ways, and followed all life's fun and games to fill the void in their heart; and only when they are completely beaten, will they turn to God with a plea for help.  And then through God's grace, mercy, and favor He will pluck them out of their dire mess and rekindle a fellowship with them to bring them to live and experience true happiness and joy through Him.  These acts of weather destruction in people's lives always bring many, many people to their knees and turns them to depend on God, because there is nothing else left but to  let the hand of God direct and rebuild their lives.   People who have to rebuild without faith will have a tough row to hoe.  People with faith will have a tough row to hoe, but they will have that inner peace, comfort, spirit, love, and direction that enables them to turn it all over to God ~ to let go and let God. 

I know I, we in Western Nebraska, are not exempt from any fierce acts of nature.  We have already experienced mild storms of hail destruction, tornado destruction in the past ~ not anywhere close to what the rest of the nation and world have been hit by.    Is our turn coming?  Very well could be.  How will I handle it?    In the meantime, I am thankful for His grace, mercy, love, peace, comfort, and blessings God has allowed me to enjoy.   I will remember in  prayer the people suffering in Joplin, Missouri that they will somehow feel God's presence in their lives and allow Him to be a part of their rebuilding process ~starting with the heart, soul and spirit.

I have for a long time claimed the scripture verse "In everything give thanks."  In all things find something to give thanks about, for when left in God's hands, all things will work together for good to those who love God.   


"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure."