There Will Be a Day...

I'm really not sure what I think as far as everything that is happening in this world today. The devastation of Haiti is horrific and my heart goes out to all the families that have lost loved ones and are left with nothing.I know there are many points of view floating around, people wanting to be able to "explain" the "why" in the situation. We as humans are really good at that...we like to pass blame. We always seem to need a reason as to why the bad things happen in this world.

My answer...because our world is broken. Whether we meet our maker in a natural disaster with a million others, from a sick bed with prayers surrounding us, or on the interstate in a five car pile up...we will all have our day. Pointing fingers, putting on the "better than you" suit or having a "I'm above all that" mentality will get us nowhere. None of us are promised five more minutes on this earth...none of us.

That being said, the only thing I do know for sure is; I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. I think what happened in Haiti, broke His heart. Could He have stopped it? Yes. Why didn't He? I don't know. There are plenty of times I "don't understand," yet I chose to still believe. There have been plenty of moments, when I have just had to lift my hands up in surrender and trust in the plans of the Almighty. That maybe His glory can shine brighter after the tragedy and pain, then during the storm...

Situations like what has been happening around our world the past few years, natural disasters, war, lots of pain and loss... they do chip away at my heart. They do create feelings of helplessness. They do bring on the tears. Yet, they also pour rains of thankfulness my way, everyday. They remind me of how blessed I am, to have what I have, but to also know where I'm going when my day comes. These situations encourage, inspire and motivate us, as Christians to reach out more, love more, give more, share more, because we really do not know what tomorrow will bring.

We can watch the problems of the world from our television screen and feel tremendous guilt over the little frustrations we have felt at work, the pain we suffered over hurt words or the "blahs" we may have on occasion. Nothing like a natural disaster to put our thoughts and attitudes in order...for a little while anyway. Lets face it, we are all human. We are all self centered. We all live in our own little world. We hoot and holler about little things, living in our little "funks," pointing fingers and putting EVERYTHING before God.

And then someone will fly a plane into one of our buildings, an earthquake or hurricane will hit or a loved one will die and all of a sudden we are left helpless, wanting to know "why." I want to know why 911 had to happen. I want to know why the earthquakes and hurricanes have to wipe out millions. I want to know why my brother died as a baby. I want to know why I had to lose three grandparents in a years time. I want to know why people in my day to day life have to be so cruel. I want to know why we have bullies, liers and gossips. I want to know...

Why?

Because we live in a world that is not perfect. It isn't the beautiful garden our creator originally planned. It is full of sin, of hurt, of pain. That is why we all eventually have to make a choice. We can choose to point fingers, wallow in self pity, or be angry...OR we can choose to still believe in the promises of the Savior.

I admit, I have my days. I can be a very moody person and get down over the most insignificant of details. I get my feelings hurt easily. I get overwhelmed easily. I have little pieces of anger and hurt feelings that are buried deep and I have a hard time letting go. Fear can be my constant companion, if I let it. There are days when I simply have to throw my hands in the air, surrender and say "Lord, I don't get it! I'm not strong enough. Life is too hard! But I want to keep my faith."

So glad that I serve a God, who knows me, loves me and meets me where I need Him most. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. Shoot! I don't know what will happen in the next five minutes. I don't even know how I will react.

But I do know one thing...

God is faithful.