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Editor's Note: This blog was written before Crossing Divides officially launched, just a day after the earthquake in Haiti.
Whatever information about upcoming community service opportunities we promised is coming—just not now.
Not now, while Port-au-prince, Haiti lies in ruins, its buildings toppled by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, leaving its people homeless and scrambling in search of their loved ones among the rubble. Newspapers and television reports fear that the death toll is in the thousands, and aid might be difficult to provide due to airport damage. You can read more here.
The pictures and status updates flooding the headlines show an abject situation that breaks my heart. Why Haiti, an already impoverished country? Why its capitol? Why even an earthquake in the first place?
I cry tears of frustration and confusion during times like these, unable to provide an explanation for such suffering whilst claiming to believe in a God who saves. I can’t even halt everything to rush off and join relief teams — and I profess some Christ-like desire to serve the needy. In times like these, much I stand for seems to unravel rapidly at the seams.
But ... BUT. If I learned anything from the Bible, it’s that when we run into a dead end or an impossible situation, we pray. 1 John 5:14-15 says:
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.
God hears our prayers.
So I will pray, and I invite you to join forces with me. Take some time aside today and the next few days to beseech God to intervene in the midst of this devastation. Right now, we pray for those missing and on the brink of survival, that they can be found living and rejoin their families and friends. Pray for the aid being sent to the country, that whatever the obstacles, it can get there and be swift and effective. We then must consider the recovery of the city. May God restore hope and restoration to Haiti.