From the book of Job and other Scriptures, we learn that Satan is the one who brings suffering and destruction into this world. God’s mercy and love surround us continually. He permits disease and suffering to come to His children only when He decides to use these things for our good.

Romans 8:28 makes it clear that ALL things work together for good to those who truly love God. Also, God uses pain and trouble to awaken the unsaved to their need to let Jesus change their hearts, that they might spend eternity in heaven.

God does not send hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes. But He does allow catastrophes to come on the earth at times, to fulfill His merciful purposes. I don’t know all that God has planned to do through these recent disasters, but here are some possibilities.

1. God wants to remind us of the uncertainty of the future, that we might trust Him more.

2. He is trying to warn lost people to be ready for death, to meet Him. No doubt some people in Pakistan, Kashmir, Indonesia, and America are now more willing to listen to the Gospel, and some will receive Jesus as their Savior.

3. Also, God is teaching Americans to be more willing to help people in need. In the past we may have given money to help those in other countries, but since hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast, many more Americans have gotten involved personally in helping those who lost everything. Some have driven to Louisiana to help feed the hungry and restore damaged property. Our own church provided shelter for some evacuees, and ORU students have spent their spring break helping people in the Gulf area.

4. God wants to remind us to hold material things loosely, for they can be taken away in a moment of time. We should put the highest value on things that will last for eternity. It is not so important, after all, to drive a fancy car or wear the latest style of clothing.

5. We need to value our family and friends, our faith and our church more highly.

6. We can see that God’s mercy has touched many survivors everywhere.

7. God can bring blessing and spiritual growth out of suffering and loss. He always overcomes Satan’s evil purposes against us if we really trust and obey Christ in the midst of our pain.

8. We need to be more thankful that we have the basic necessities of life and stop complaining about things we do not have.

If you think about it, you can probably see additional things that God is doing through the recent disasters. Instead of groaning about our personal problems, let’s thank God daily for His mercy and grace.