I honestly love people. I really do.
I am amazed at how God uses people and how we are capable of allowing him to use us. Saturday I had the privilege to help a family in need with a group of friends. The one thing in this life that makes me feel alive is when I am able to help others in need. What gives me greater joy is seeing others willing to make the same sacrifice. This was a last minute project but 4 other people were willing to sacrifice their Saturday to go to this family's home and help take care of their needs.
When the tornadoes came through Ringgold, it was such a tragedy. Many family's lost loved one, lost homes, and/or lost their sense of security. Each time I hear the wind pick up outside, hear thunder, or see lightning my heart breaks because I know that many people are terrified because that tornado didn't just take away homes, it took away their feeling of safety. Now many dread when they hear the sound of thunder and are filled with fear.
Many may wonder (as I have wondered myself) why on earth would God allow such events to take place such as natural disasters? Why would God allow a family to break? I don't have the answers but I can see one possible solution. When tragedy strikes a city or a person, people show love. It's really amazing when you think about it, the type of love that is poured onto people. After the tornadoes, people were sacrificing their time and money to help. When a family is broken and in need, a group of young adults in their 20's sacrifice a Saturday to help give a little piece of hope to someone who is blinded by the darkness that has engulfed their life. I can't describe what I feel inside when I see people pouring the love of God onto other people. It just makes me so happy and joyful to see that I'm not alone when it comes wanting to show love to others.
So why does tragedy happen? I think it happens because we see God more clearly in tragedy. God works miracles in our lives all the time but we tend to become more in tuned to what he is doing when we are on our last leg and in deep desperation. Personally, I know I'm closest to him when I am broken. You can't blame him for allowing tragedy into our lives when it gives Him time with us, especially when that is all he longs for is time with us. And what makes this time even more significant is that he doesn't need time with us, he just wants it.
I have a longing in my heart that I want fulfilled very deeply. I know that my day will come but it's just not my time. Knowing that it's not my time makes the waiting more difficult. Then I realize how God has helped me and how he continues to help me. Through this desert of loneliness he has carried me when I didn't have the strength to go any further. I dream of the day when my heart's desire will be fulfilled but I realize how I still want that desperation for God even though what I want will be fulfilled. I love feeling that desperation and longing for him, it drives me to spend time with him and to grow in a more personal relationship with him. I'm pretty sure God is always going to make me wait for what he has placed in my heart to long for and I'm slowly becoming more okay with this. The last thing I want is to wake up one day and have everything I've ever wanted and to not feel God's presence in my life.
Though tragedy hurts and waiting sucks, God has purpose. Even if the purpose is just to keep that longing and desperation for him stirred up in our hearts.
This story comes from a lady I work with:
ReplyDeleteA couple she knows lives out in Ringgold and as the winds were getting stronger, the husband went into the backyard to secure some things; the wife was in the bathroom under cover. The tornado came and trapped the man outside so he put himself underneath a vehicle. The tornado tore the house apart, taking the life of the woman (who, in fact, had a deep and personal relationship with God... she was ready to go Home). Her husband (a non-Christian) was spared. Eventually, he heard the voice of God and knew why he was spared. He soon gave his life to Christ.
An event can be a tragedy in our eyes, but the Lord knows what He is doing. He is far greater than we can even give Him credit for and He works in amazing ways!