Hope in a Hurricane

 

“When He thunders, the waters in the heavens are in turmoil, and He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and brings the wind from His storehouses” - Jeremiah 10:13

 "...who covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the earth and causes grass to grow on the hills…lightning and hail, snow and cloud, stormy wind that executes His command” 

- Psalm 147:8; 148:8

“He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth...“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour...' The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them. At His direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water His earth and show His love” - Job 37:3, 6, 10-13

What do wooly worms, rings around the moon, clouds, cows, pecans, birds, persimmon seeds and aching joints have in common? These are all ways we have tried to predict the weather.

Weather is one of humanity’s greatest conversational topics. This week, however, the weather is more than a mere discussion to overcome awkward silence.

In Florida, and other parts of the East Coast (where we reside), the past few days have been wall to wall coverage of Hurricane Ian - which is just a hair below a Category 5 hurricane.

That’s bad.

Which brings to mind a very important question: does God control the weather? And, if he does, why allow something like a hurricane to develop, devastate and destroy the lives of countless people - who are created in the image of God?

Good questions.

This week is also a reminder that the weather is something people cannot control. Sure, we can “predict” it, but more or less, all we really can do is prepare and respond.

A great analysis of weather from a Christian worldview comes rom apologist, author and theologian Jerry Bridges. In his book “Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts” Bridges writes:

“But God has not walked away from the day-to-day control of His creation. Certainly He has established physical laws by which He governs the forces of nature, but those laws continuously operate according to His sovereign will. A Christian TV meteorologist has determined that there are over 1,400 references to weather terminology in the Bible. Many of these references attribute the outworking of weather directly to the hand of God.”

Even so, perhaps the proper starting point should be NOT “Why does God allow hurricanes” but rather “Why does God NOT leave us during hurricanes?”

Every other god developed via the imagination of humanity demands something from humankind and will only act when appropriately offered various items of sacred worth. Unfortunately, even Christians often act this way: “Here, let me give some extra funds to the church this week and God will help me out of this situation I am in.”

Buying God’s favor? That isn’t biblical. And, it doesn’t work.

The Good News is this: God has placed his people in every area where disasters occur so that he himself is there - his Presence is ever with us (just as Jesus promised when he stated, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age…). God does not leave us during hurricanes.

“Wherever two or more are gathered together in my Name, I will be there in the midst.”

So, why would a loving God allow such terrible things like hurricanes to happen? It is a relevant question. After all, these events cause massive destruction and even death.

Well, the answer is not so simple nor is it completely understandable by our limited human thinking. First off, we must remember that God doesn’t promise us a life free of problems. Some things just happen. There is no rhyme or reason. Perhaps they are a direct consequence of sin. Maybe not. Either way, life happens.

Secondly, we must remember that our Savior promises he’ll never leave us if we put our trust in him. After all, it was he who stated: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” - John 16:33.

Thirdly, it’s imperative that - when faced with traumatic moments in life - you hold tightly to the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven, where no suffering of any kind will be allowed to affect you. “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).

God’s design for humankind isn’t for you or your loved ones to suffer. Rather he loves you and wants to be there for you through the worst parts of life. Yes, there can be hope in a hurricane.

“Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow - blessings all mine, with 10,000 beside..”