When an earthquake destroys homes, or a mudslide buries an entire village, or bombs hit civilian populations, what is our response? Did the same God that we worship bring these disasters upon us? Doesn’t He love us? Why would he do these things? Are they out of His control?

In all things, God either directs or allows events to happen. Disasters don’t surprise God. He has both the power and the authority to stop them, and yet in His infinite wisdom and goodness He chooses for them to occur. In disasters, as in all things, God accomplishes His holy purposes through them that He may be glorified.

This is perhaps best illustrated in Psalm 46:

Notice in verse 8 that these disasters are “the works of the Lord.” Several other passages reiterate this same point, including Job 1:20-22, Job 2:10, Psalm 104:4, 105:16, 135:7, 147:18, 148:8, Isaiah 45:7, Lamentations 3:38, and Mark 4:41.

God uses disasters for several purposes. Disasters, like suffering, are:

• Refining. God loves us too much to leave us in our sinful ways. He uses all types of hardships, including disasters, to develop our character and make us more like Christ. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” –Romans 5:3-4 (See also James 1:2-3; Romans 8:28-29)



• Evangelistic. One of the primary methods God has used to bring non-believers to Himself is through the suffering of the saints. As we suffer well and rejoice in our trials, others are drawn to the message we carry and to the One who enables us to endure all things. “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” – 2 Timothy 2:10 (See also Colossians 1:24)



• Glorifying to God. As we encounter many trials on this earth, we recognize God as the Sovereign One who has power over everything. Thus, we turn to Him for strength, comfort, endurance, and hope, and we rejoice in the knowledge that we will one day be united with Him in Heaven. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” – 1 Peter 1:6-7 (See also Exodus 7:3-5; Psalm 105)

A Biblical Response to Disasters
So, what is our response to disasters?

• Reach out to those in need. Disasters create many physical and emotional needs. By meeting these immediate needs and caring for them in their most desperate hour, we show the love of Christ in a practical way and fulfill His commands. “Love your neighbor as yourself” – Matthew 22:39 (See also Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; Galatians 6:2).



• Share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Disasters also strip away all false hopes and the things in which we foolishly place our security, and they remind us that God is the only One in Whom we can truly place our trust. As servants of the Lord who are willing to meet peoples’ immediate physical needs, we encounter opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ, thereby meeting spiritual needs as well. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20

A call to rebuild:
“And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday…Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” – Isaiah 58:10, 12