Where Is God In the Storm?

(Smithville, MS, after April 27, 2011, tornado damage)

I've been hearing different people pose the question, "Where is God in the storm?" lately. Many are meaning where was God when the tornadoes ripped through several towns and cities in MS and AL last week. Some are meaning where was God when their lives were devastated because of a diagnois of cancer, a loved one died, a womb became barren, a marriage was defiled and broken, a job was lost, or many other situations too numerous to name. It's a valid question. One that saved and lost alike have asked.

Yesterday as I listened to American Family Radio, Bro. Bert Harper, Pastor of West Jackson Street Baptist Church in Tupelo, MS, spoke directly to this question of "Where is God in the storm?". He basically gave two answers. One, that God is where He's always been...He's still on the throne! He still decides what happens and we can't know the mind of God. (Matthew 5:45b) "for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

And two, that just as God was IN THE FIRE with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, He's in the midst of our storms WITH us if we are Christians. (Daniel 3: 24-25)"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. " I thought Bro. Harper had a lot of good thoughts along this line.

Some may still argue that it's not fair for bad things to happen to good people! We get to thinking sometimes that we deserve good things from God don't we! Rev. R.C. Sproul was in a meeting one time where a woman asked him this question..."Why do bad things happen to good people?"....to which Rev. Sproul replied, "If I ever find some 'good people' I'll let you know. I only know One Good Person that bad things happened to and He volunteered!" (Rom.3:12) "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

There will always be seasons of storms throughout our lives. But as Christians we can be comforted by remembering that God is still God and that He will go WITH us through any storms that come our way. Amen!

(Victory Baptist Church in Smithville,MS, worships in the ruble left by the F5 tornado)