Where is God when disaster strikes?

When I was writing my book at the beginning of 2025, wildfires broke out in California. I watched news reports in horror as homes were devastated and lives were lost. Through their tears, people spoke of their immense grief, and my heart ached for all who were suffering.

During my church’s weekly worship service, we prayed for all the victims, asking God to bring them comfort and hope. In my private prayers, I also lifted up the firefighters and other first responders, asking God to protect them as they served their neighbors in potentially life-threatening circumstances.

In the quiet stillness of that moment, I felt compelled to add a devotional piece about natural disasters—something our nation and its people contend with every year—to my book.

More recently, during the Fourth of July weekend, our fellow Americans in Texas were struck by flash floods that claimed over 100 lives, yet another heartbreaking loss that will affect the region for many months to come.

In light of these current events, I want to share this piece with you.

If you know someone who would be comforted by reading it, please feel free to pass it along to them.

With love in Christ,

Amanda

xoxo

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.…

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

—Psalm 34:15, 17–19

As we drove through the neighborhood surrounding our church, my eyes teared up at the devastation. Cars crushed, roofs torn off, trees completely uprooted, utility poles and lines downed… It looked like a scene out of an apocalyptic movie.

Lord, have mercy! was the only prayer I could find in that moment.

Massive, destructive tornadoes had torn through Tennessee and Kentucky, injuring dozens of people and killing several. The full extent of the damage was still being assessed, but the clean-up effort would obviously take time. However, reckoning with the mental and emotional toll this event had on individuals, families, and the community would undoubtedly take even more time.

Each year, the United States experiences numerous natural disasters. Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, mudslides, and other tragedies befall our people. We helplessly watch as first responders and rescue crews try to stem the tide of loss of life and property, and we despair over the rising death tolls in the daily headlines.

“Unnatural” Disasters

We call these types of events “natural disasters,” but there’s nothing “natural” about them. The Apostle Paul explained this in Romans 8:22: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Prior to humanity’s fall into sin, creation was in perfect harmony. But afterward, everything was corrupted and thrust into a state of decay and turmoil. The chaos we see in nature reminds us of the reality of sin in the world.

When a disaster strikes, some think the people affected were stricken because of their sin. Jesus addressed this issue in Luke. After a tragic incident, He taught: “Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4–5). Jesus’s words make it clear that suffering isn’t always a direct result of personal sin or divine judgment.

In another incident, Jesus once again corrected His disciples’ misunderstanding about the relationship between personal sin and earthly struggles: “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him’” (John 9:1–3). The man’s suffering wasn’t due to a specific sin. His ailment would be used as an occasion for Jesus to perform a miracle—not only to heal the man’s blindness but also to save his soul.

Our Father Hears Us

When disasters hit home, it can be easy to feel forsaken. But Psalm 34:17–18 reminds us, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.” Even as we sit among the rubble of our homes, spend hour upon hour calling insurance companies and filling out forms, or mourn the loss of life, He is right there beside us, putting our sorrowful tears into His bottle (Psalm 56:8).

Christians have an opportunity to respond to tragedy in a way that reflects the confidence, trust, and hope we have in God, providing a powerful witness to the world. This is the kind of faith spoken of in the book of James: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2–4).

During times of disaster, we also can come together as a community of believers to support our neighbors’ physical and spiritual needs. We can volunteer for relief efforts, whether serving meals, handing out bottled water, distributing supplies, clearing debris, or repairing damaged buildings. We can listen to people share about how the event affected them and show empathy. And most importantly, we can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

Hope Shines Through

In the days following the tornados, amid the tales of loss and heartbreak, other stories began to emerge—stories of healing and hope. A collection had been taken up to help a small-business owner get her store up and running anew. A stockpile of Christmas presents at a nonprofit for needy children had been spared. A four-month-old baby swept away from his destroyed home was later found safely nestled in a fallen tree. His family attributed his survival to God’s grace.

Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:18–21).

One day, Christ will return and make all things new, and natural disasters will no longer afflict the world. Until then, “let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Prayer

Dearest Lord, when natural disasters strike, we acutely feel the pain of living in a fallen world. In such times of trouble, help us remember that You are near to the brokenhearted, and You will deliver us from all our troubles. In the face of such tragedies, may our response to others reflect Your love and give hope to our communities. We ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen.

For Further Reflection

What would you say to someone who has lost everything in a catastrophic event like a hurricane, fire, flood, or tornado?
How can you support your fellow Americans who have been afflicted by a natural disaster?

Excerpt taken from One Nation Under God: 40 Devotions for Patriotic Women by Amanda C. Bauch (forthcoming November 11, 2025, from Post Hill Press)

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