I was just talking with my mom about the earthquake in Haiti. I have tried to sit down and write my thoughts about it since it happened. The problem is, I don’t really know how to adequately express what I have been thinking about and feeling. Every time I think about families torn apart, the amount of people injured or have passed away, or the number of people left homeless, I tear up. That kind of destruction for me is really unimaginable. My heart goes out to people in Haiti.
I cannot say that I understand what they are going through. I cannot imagine the fear that they must have right now. I have seen something similar two years ago in China. I remember how terrified the people in the city I lived in were and we only felt a small rumble. We were nowhere near the epicenter. People flocked to the streets and many were afraid to return to their homes. In fact, many lived in tents for about a month after it happened. And this was in a city where only a handful of people died.
I never saw the actual destruction that happened in China. I saw pictures on television, much like I am seeing in Haiti. I did see the effects though of fear in people’s lives. For many that fear crippled them - it kept them from pressing forward. For one lady that I know personally, fear brought her to her knees. Right after the earthquake happened, she found herself shaken. She had been physically shaken in the earthquake but the effects of being shaken went beyond her physical body. She saw that life could end in a spit second. She knew that there were things that were not right in her life and she came to Sunday morning fellowship in search of healing. She found it at the cross.
I don’t really understand why disasters like this happen. I do know that He is Sovereign. I know that He is in control. I know that He is able to make beauty from ashes. I know that many people do cry out to Him in times like this.
In China, there are many stories like my friend’s. In fact, after the the aftermath of the earthquake had settled, after the all the volunteers went back to where they came from and the pictures of the destruction was no longer on the television, it was mostly other like-minded people who stayed. I still have colleagues and friends who are working in the earthquake zone. Chinese brothers and sisters as well as foreign brothers and sister are still ministering there - showing His love and telling them about Him who cares - Him who cared so much that He sent His Son to die for them.
Will you pray with me for the people of Haiti? Will you ask that there will be people who still stay there after the pictures are no longer on the television - people who will show His love with both words and deeds.
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
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