Much Ado About Suffering

As I've considered the incredible suffering in Haiti, as in other areas that have recently experienced natural disasters, I am humbled by a Sovereign God even more so. How should we respond to such crises? We must give. Whether it be financial resources or service, here in the United States or even in Haiti, we must give. The Sovereign God demands that we do so, that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. And the Lord is pleased with sacrifices of praise, of sacrifices made in doing good and sharing with others.

So I do challenge myself, and humble myself before the Lord, to determine just how to give. Our small church made a significant commitment to give financially today. And we plan to give to Partners With Haiti (partnerswithhaiti.org). What else? Time will tell, doors will be opened, and we will do more.

Remember, God does not create killer storms and delight in them. On another extreme, God is not powerless, as some might say, in that there is nothing He could do about what happened. Surely the effect of natural disasters is of God. For He brings about calamity (Isaiah 45:70. But He is all-powerful and all-just. And because of evil there are outcomes that are terrible, for the earth as it is today is cursed. But that is where the Sovereign God's promises and plan for redemption resound, and there is great hope of life in Him for eternity.