Lord Have Mercy

Ok, something just occurred to me after I wrote my post about being tested. I didn't recognize it at first, but what timing that I chose to write about that right after the Southeast was hit so hard by tornadoes on Wednesday, which was the worst tornado storms we've had in the US in 40 years. I just wanted to add to my previous thoughts that I think natural disasters are some of the most difficult tests of faith. So many people ask the age old question, why did God let that happen? With so many people's homes and businesses destroyed and friends and family members injured or killed, it's easy to ask why. It's easy to be angry about it and blame God for all the devastation.

Wednesday while I was watching the news after the first "round" of storms hit, one of the news stations was doing a story about a home in Chattanooga that was completely enveloped by a fallen tree. You couldn't even see the house through all the branches that fell around it. They interviewed a woman who lived on one side of the duplex, and she told her story about how she was home with her kids, and just started praying because they were scared. Moments later the tree fell on top of their home, and she grabbed her crying little ones and ran to her neighbors house. While she's telling her story, she stopped and said "God is good! He is so good to me!" She was so thankful that her kids were safe and uninjured, she didn't spend time being angry about her roof collapsing, or the giant tree that covered her home. She was thankful. What an uplifting thing to hear among all the sorrow and devastation. God is good. He certainly doesn't want to see us suffering, and giving thanks for the little things (or not so little things) like your family's safety, or a helping hand, it certainly makes the devastation less daunting. Turn to God in all situations, but especially horrible situations like this, and He will provide.

So to everyone out there who is suffering, my prayers go out to you. I thank God I'm one of the lucky ones with no damage to my house, but I've been keeping up with the news and the damage out there is unimaginable. The death toll is rising, people are without homes. It's an awful sight to behold. All I can say is Lord have mercy.