Impacted By the Wave

CBN.com - In late December 2004, the most powerful earthquake in over forty years struck deep under the Indian Ocean off the northwestern coast of the island of Sumatra.

The magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered massive tsunamis that hit the coasts of fourteen countries from Southeast Asia to northeastern Africa.

The disaster obliterated cities, villages, and holiday resorts. As of February 16, 2005, the death toll from the catastrophe totaled close to 288,000. Nearly two-thirds of the deaths occurred in Indonesia, with high death tolls also reported in India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Our life can change in an instant. Catastrophe can suddenly strike and take away everything we have.

God called Job "blameless" and "a man of complete integrity" (Job 1:8), yet through a series of disasters, Job lost him children, his wealth, and his health overnight.

Even in his grief, Job did not blame God, although he questioned why these things happened. When his questioning turned into complaining, God revealed his power and majesty to Job in a new way. Job acknowledged God's sovereignty, and God restored him to greater things than before.

When we're reeling from sudden disaster, it's hard to think about anything except to wonder why. It seems impossible to focus on God's goodness at times like that, but that's what He wants us to do.

It helps to remember that our life can also change for the good in an instant. He is working in all things and will bring healing and restoration in His timing.

As believers, we can recall that time when His forgiveness and grace swept over us and brought redemption and eternal life. Even if we lose everything, including our life, we will still have the most important thing.

"The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me" (2 Samuel 22:5).

This Devotion is taken from The One Year On This Day Devotion.

(Tyndale House Publishers)
 © 2005 Dianne Neal Matthews

Dianne Neal Matthews’ publishing credits include magazine articles, Devotions, and newspaper features. Her work has won several awards, including the 2006 Writer of the Year Award at the Write-to-Publish Conference in Wheaton, Illinois. She and her husband, Richard, have been married thirty-two years and have three grown children and one granddaughter. Dianne is currently working on The One Year Women of the Bible Devotion scheduled for release by Tyndale in August 2007.

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