The Unquestionable Faithfulness of God

"When you can't see God's hand, trust his heart."

I saw a story about an adoptive family that was about to travel to Haiti this week to pick up their daughter only to discover that she died yesterday in the earthquake.  My heart goes out to this family.  Although I do not know the particulars of their situation, I imagine their sense of loss must be great.  Most parents allow themselves to ponder the futures of their children.  They wonder about things like broken bones, school, relationships, careers, and the like.  When coupled with the anticipation of the arrival date, this pondering produces an anxious joy.

However, the anxious joy fades to sorrow when dreams are laid to rest along side of a child.  Unless we are anchored in the Lord, sorrow can become a miry bog of despondency which saps the very life from us.  It is like that scene in The NeverEnding Story  where Atreyu loses his horse Artax in the Swamp of Sadness.  Overcome by despair, the horse refuses to move and sinks into the swamp. The key to overcoming despair is to prayerfully fighting against it.

It is easy to look at the devastation in Haiti and the loss of this young girl, and say, "Where was God in all of this?"  But the question demonstrates our inability to comprehend the ways of God.  Who are we to question God?  Even if he felt compelled to explain his actions to us, what makes us think we could comprehend them?  No, it is better to return to what we know.  We know God is righteous, holy, just, sovereign, love, all knowing, all powerful, and all wise.  He know that he has a purpose for all he decrees and all he permits.  We know that all his decisions are right and true; they are exactly what they should be.

Now is not the time to question our only Source of hope.  Now is the time to confess the limits of our strength,  our knowledge, and our faith.  Now is the time to cry out for mercy--mercy for us, mercy for this family, and mercy for Haiti.  Now is the time to put faith into action.  If you are interested in giving to help Haiti there are many reputable outlets through which you can give.  The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention recommends going through Baptist Global Response.  One hundred percent (100%) of money given through Baptist Global Response goes to combat hunger.  We need to continue to prayer for this family that lost their daughter, and for the thousands of Haitians who have lost family as well.

God's faithfulness cannot be taxed.  It is not measured by a lack of suffering, a lack of pleasant weather, or a lack of difficulty.  God's faithfulness is measured by the depth of suffering Jesus endured upon the cross.  It is measured in the power the Father exerted when he raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies.  It is measured by the work of the Spirit as he brings new birth in the hearts of God's people.  Let us, in full confidence of God's faithfulness, rise up in the face of such tragedy and proclaim the glory of God to the nations.