Hearts are breaking all throughout the household of faith, as reports continue to come from Haiti like hands reaching out to the air for help.
The reports are unbearable to watch. The only thing worse than watching the agonizing suffering is the feeling of helplessness it brings. When I could no longer go without hearing the latest update, I saw on television an emergency field hospital whose sole purpose was to amputate the crushed limbs of children. My broken heart and that of my family, like yours, broken even more.
We watch because we are one family, and so just as we share the sufferings, may we also share the comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:7)
The God of all comfort and Father of tender mercies hears the cries of his people. He collects their tears in a bottle. (Psalms 56:8). He is aware of the suffering of all people, because they are his children. Yes, our Heavenly Father has purchased the entire human family with the precious blood of his very own Son. And so like any parent, He feels pain in his heart, when his children feel pain.
At tragic times as these, many blame God. Some would say He is testing or even punishing mankind. "He does everything for a reason. It's part of his plan. We shouldn't question, it's a mystery, not meant to be understood." Or in the case of children who lose their lives: "God needed another little angel."
These are falsehoods not found in the Bible that actually blaspheme God, laying blame at his feet for death and suffering.
God cannot be tried with evil things. (James 1:13) He is not the cause of unforeseen occurrences that befall us all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Rather, He is the only source of comfort, relief, hope and salvation by means of His Kingdom ruled by his Son. He is the Life Giver, not a Life Taker.
So, we can pray to him as The Hearer of Prayer for those suffering in Haiti. (Psalm 65:2) Pray for the living to keep living, to endure, to cope, and to recover. Pray that with eyes of faith they can see and feel our hands reaching out for theirs.
The dead are safe and sound in God's memory. (John 5:28). That is a very safe place to be, until God willing, he reunites them with their families. Pray that He remembers them. Pray also for His name to be sanctified. The pain in our hearts is there because we are made in his image. Now, imagine on top of all the hurt, you are blamed for the tragedy as well. This is what our God is feeling right now.
Pray for his Kingdom to come and bring an end to all suffering. Yes friends, we are not hopeless, nor are we helpless during this tragedy. We can pray and do whatever charitable works are within our power to do.
And that is doing alot.
In faith, hope and love, I remain
"Tristan"
