God Showed Up

     As I kissed my children good morning, hugged them as they rose from their beds, and then sent them out the door to school, I couldn't help but think about the dozens of mothers in Oklahoma who followed the same morning routine yesterday.  They had no idea that their children wouldn't be coming home.   When tragedies like the Moore, OK tornado occur, I often find myself asking the question "Where was God?"  Today was certainly one of those days.

     In Hebrews, God says "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (13:5).  I imagine that the parents of those children and the countless others who lost loved ones yesterday feel pretty abandoned right now.   They have no homes, no clothes, no food, no water, and some of them have lost their children.  Think about that for a minute.  They're children are gone.  How could they not feel abandoned?

     As I began to talk to God about this, He slowly reminded me that He is wherever we take him.  He asked me to take a closer look.  So as I stared at the TV, I began searching for a glimpse of Him.  And as the familiar passage in Matthew 7 tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  I found Him.  God showed up.

God showed up in the voices of the meteorologists who begged citizens to take cover.

God showed up in the faces of the first responders as they rushed to that elementary school.

God showed up in the heart of the teacher who shielded her students with her own body during the storm.

God showed up in the mother who prayed for her child to be found alive in the rubble.

God showed up in the hearts of neighbors as they dug through the rubble of what once was their friends' homes.

God showed up in the churches of Oklahoma as they opened their doors to the now homeless.

God showed up in the eyewitness accounts of children being rescued and rushed to local hospitals.

God showed up in the form of power crews from surrounding areas hoping to lend a hand.

God showed up as the American Red Cross provides water and shelter to the victims and workers.

God showed up on Facebook as the nation wrote their sympathies for the lost.

God showed up in my own home as we prayed for the victims.


     I wonder how many people cried out to God during those brief few minutes of the storm. I know it must have been many.  I also know that my God showed up.  I know that He was under the rubble with those 3rd graders, holding them tight as they took their last breath.  I know that He was with the injured as they lay buried under their homes.   I know that He is still watching over the recovery efforts, pointing search teams to victims. And I know that He is with me as long as I seek Him. 

Dear Heavenly Father, sometimes it can be so overwhelming to be a part of this world.  There are storms that take us by surprise and some even take everything we have.  There are heartaches and hardships that make us question whether or not you are still in control.  Thank you for reminding us that your love endures forever.  Thank you for showing up every time we need you.  We love you so much.  Amen.