Where Was God in Texas?
What the Texas floods showed us about the presence of God
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This week we go from the founding of this country, to what happened just over a week ago in Texas. Last time we saw how declaring a new identity can break us free from mistreatment. Here I show one of the ways that God comes to our aid as we make Him part of our identity.
This is the third post in this series of using current or historical events to show how God works, and how to have a better life with Him. You can see the last two posts here:
Choosing Our Identity, in 1776 and today
Look at how God manifested His presence and comfort here, and how it was more powerful than the death they had just witnessed, or the destruction that was still coming at them.
(1) God and tragedy
Where is God in a tragedy? Some people distance themselves from God, or reject Him entirely, because they don't understand how God can allow suffering.
Here I provide an answer through a widely watched video of girls who were being evacuated from Camp Mystic on July 4, during the recent Texas floods. See how God appeared there, despite what they were going through.
The Texas floods might be far from your life, or may be yesterday's news. However, understanding where God is in the midst of our hard is something we all greatly need; see Section 7 for your own answers.
(2) Man’s choice, God’s redemption
God doesn't make suffering happen, but He helps us through it. He created a world for us without affliction, and it was man who sinned, separating humans from God, and bringing on the many experiences that come with a hard life (e.g., Genesis 3).
Then God sent his own Son to repair the separation, and give anyone the ability to have Him live with them on the inside (e.g., John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16). When we accept and actively receive Him, He gives us comfort, victory, and joy in the midst of a fallen world (e.g., John 14:26-27; Romans 5:17; John 10:10).
But, you might ask, why didn't God just prevent Adam from making the awful choice of disobedience, so we wouldn't have to go through suffering at all? There are many deep answers to this question, all centering on how we wouldn't have then been free to choose Him, or choose right or wrong in general, resulting in a meaningless existence.