tears of God

On the T.V. was a news special on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Even though it was 5 years removed from the situation; the footage, the stories, and the music moved me to tears.

Human suffering pervades all societies of the world but to have seen it so vividly in America really hit home for me. Given I wasn't in the midst of it and can only speak of it as a third party, the question for me is, why wasn't something done?

Many arguments can be said if something was done or not, but I want to give voice to another age old issue. Where was God?

Many have argued that in the midst of suffering, why wouldn't a merciful and loving God intercede? I don't claim to have adequate knowledge in the field of apologetics nor am I seasoned enough to fully answer this question satisfactorily, but I am compelled to defend my God to some degree.

If one believes we have free will, then it can be argued that we as humans do what we want, whenever we want. This in itself can be carried over to the fact of humans causing other humans suffering. With this, other humans who witness such can stop such, if so compelled.

So how does this explain natural disasters and the suffering that it brings? Why not think of it as an opportunity that our Creator has allowed for us to comfort those, showing and sharing the same love and comfort He has given us? Scripture tells us to comfort those in suffering (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). So why not help out?

But what about the innocent people who suffered in vain? Did they deserve, at times, unspeakable atrocities and horrors committed against them? -Who are we to question God? I mean we could and we can. Job certainly did after his trials, but God replied (Job 38 and the following chapters) with a more than compelling response. What do we know? I keep coming back to Ecclesiastes 3:11.

So why the natural disasters in the first place? Why even have all these things happen so that we have to question God in the first place?

Maybe He wants us to find Him in the midst of suffering. Maybe He wants us to be the Comforter. I suppose this isn't an adequate enough response, so I leave you with another thought...does not God shed tears too?