Where is God? Isn’t our God a God of love? Can’t God prevent such things as violent earthquakes (not to mention tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires, mud slides, etc.)? Why does God allow these things to happen?

God is present, as is clearly proclaimed in Matthew 28:20. We also know that God is love, according to 1 John 4:8. Furthermore, He is able to prevent disaster and protect those who believe in Him, as the Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 46.

However, God’s first concern is the salvation of individual souls through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone (1 Timothy 2:3-6). Jesus was asked about people whose blood Pilate mixed with his sacrifices. Jesus answered in part, “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5).

Disasters, wars, and death all point us to the truth that from the fall into sin by Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-3), the world and all who are in it are under the death-curse of Original (inherited) Sin. Disasters and death, as well as “natural” disasters like the tsunami, are all a result of man’s first sinful rebellion against God. Indeed, all tragedies and disasters point us to the fact that we as humans are not in control of weather, nor of countless other events.

Instead of asking “Where is God?” we need to ask: 1) Do we believe and trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for us? And 2) Have we through the Holy Ghost repented, turning from our sin and unbelief to trust in Jesus? Those who are believing and trusting in Jesus alone as the Savior are ready to face death without advance warning, secure in faith in Jesus and His resurrection!

Secondly, God moves Christians to have hearts of compassion to help individuals (even those who are not likeminded in the faith or even of the faith) who are hurting due to disaster, just as the Good Samaritan did. (Luke 10:30-37) Let us give of our time, talent, and treasure to help where we can.

What of victims of disasters and death? Why does God allow these, when He could prevent them? Is God punishing these people or nations? We cannot see into the eternal counsels of God’s reasons “why.” Because Christians are bound by God’s Word, we cannot give a definite answer. For we know that we are neither to add to nor subtract from the Word of God (Revelation 22:18-19). Where God in His Word is silent, we are not given permission to speak for Him. Rather, we are to remain silent and leave it in the hands of a just and merciful God.

We can know for certain from His Word that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Speaking through the prophet Isaiah about life’s adversities for the believer in Christ, God says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you” (Isaiah 43:2a). As we rely upon Christ alone for forgiveness and trust in the resurrection and the hope of heaven, God strengthens or builds up our faith in Jesus through adversities and disasters. Since it is God’s will for all people to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), we can see both the necessity and urgency to tell others of God’s great mercy and grace in the One and Only Savior, Jesus Christ, so that they, too, may trust in His substitutionary death on the cross and His liberating bodily resurrection.

Whether we are in the midst of disaster and death, or only observing such things from a distance on the other side of the world, God desires to draw us closer to Himself through faith in Jesus. May the Triune God strengthen our faith in Christ as we are drawn to Him in thanksgiving for all that He has given to us and in thanks-living to Him by sharing with others in need what He has entrusted to our care both spiritually and materially.

Karl Heck is pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Iowa.