Finding God in the Storms

Tornadoes, strong winds, and extreme amounts of rain have reeked havoc on the Oklahoma City Metro over the past two weeks.  Approximately 30+ lives, 15,000+ homes, and multiple businesses, schools, and churches all lost in the past two weeks.  Nothing like Oklahoma Weather during tornado season.

Although I have not personally heard anyone ask this question, I'm sure a lot of people are wondering how a good God could allow such devastating and tragic events to happen.  Some may even add, especially to the Bible belt of all places.

Radical extremists argue that we are experiencing God's wrath because of our sins.  One group even blamed OKC Thunder player Kevin Durant because he said he would still love and support a basketball player that recently announced that he was a homosexual.  Please don't listen to these people.  Their distorted view of the Bible is a poor representation of Christianity.

The fact of the matter is devastating events like Tornadoes happen due to a mixture of hot and cold air colliding.  The flat landscape of Oklahoma, Kansas, and surrounding areas is a perfect breeding ground of this to happen.  Its nature.  It's science.  I don't think it has to do with God's wrath on a people or especially on one particular person's choice to extend grace to someone.

So where is God in all this distaster and devastation?

God shows up in disaster relief teams.  He is in the teachers that lay on top of students.  He is in the Salvation Army & Red Cross.  He is in the relief teams both organized and unorganized.  He is in the churches, businesses, and hospitals that have set up shelters.  He is in the celebrities and major corporations that have donated millions of dollars and in concerts and events that raised millions more.

God showed up as First Responders, Firemen, Policemen, Nurses, Doctors, Teachers, Principals and the President.  He showed up as storm chasers, meteorologists  and news casters keeping folks informed.  He showed up as friends and family members in piles of rubble.  God showed up as strangers lending a hand.  He showed up as college dorms allowing workers to stay.  He showed up as truckloads of water, diapers, clothes, and food.  And He showed up as a single gift card, dollar bill in the offering plate, and the small contents of a child's piggy bank.

You ask where is God during times of devastation and disaster?  I ask you where is He not?

May God bless Oklahoma and may we be thankful for His presence in our state, cities, communities and families.