Believing God is Good When Life Isn't.

If God is good, then why? Why did He allow this to happen? Why didn't He stop the waters from rising? How can I believe in a God like that?

I hate to be so blunt, but many cannot. It's just too much.

Just so you know, I did not just wake up one day singing Jesus tunes and "loving the Lord"! There was a point in my life when I would even mute the TV when the "Worship NOW" commercials came on! If you can't quite believe God is good because of all the death, evil, and destruction in this world, I get it. It seems a bit whack-a-do! Until you have an encounter with Jesus. And when you do, that's when seeds others have scattered in your direction show their growth.

The good God does in the midst of tragedy is often overshadowed by the trauma. The world force feeds you the bad, while God pleads with those of us who believe, to REMEMBER the good.

This is an extremely hard post to write. Catastrophic flooding has resulted in many people missing, young and not so young. But I do believe God is showing up in more good ways than we know. As those of us who have experienced Jesus REMEMBER the times and ways He has shown up in our trauma, good seeds ARE scattered to those around us. And since I believe all belief comes through the Holy Spirit, I believe seeds of Hope will explode in the heart of those who need Him in the midst of their tragedy.

There is a beautiful family in Corpus who lost their son, in a tragic accident almost exactly a year ago. For over 40 hours many volunteers searched the waters of Port A, with all hope they would find him, maybe even still rescue him. Thank you Jesus, they were able to recover his body. But that will never take the trauma away they endured. Nothing will.

But they knew God. They had loved Him and seen Him show up for years, in mighty ways.

I am certain this year has been almost unbearable at times. All the firsts without his beautiful smile. But the seeds they continue to scatter, in the midst of their shattered hearts, that's where God shows up mightily.

By REMEMBERING with others the unfathomable ways God has shown up, in our helplessness, seeds can't help but scatter! And the Holy Spirit does the rest! As believers, it is, I believe, our greatest purpose. REMEMBERING SO THAT the Hope of Jesus shines into others' darkness.

"Forgetting what lies behind" (Philippians 3:13), does not mean we forget what we have endured! Stop focusing on the sins behind you and look forward to the Hope of Jesus showing up in your midst.

The bad things we see happening are not because of God's wrath, just to be clear. That is the most evil seed anyone can plant! The bible actually says that WHEN bad things happen, God will be with His children. So if believers stop sharing His Presence IN the bad hard times, who will?

Believers are to REMEMBER, SO THAT seeds can be planted BEFORE needs arise! If someone "comes to Jesus" in the midst of their trauma, chances are, a good seed was already planted. AND, if someone sees tragedy and blames an angry god, bad seeds were planted, or maybe no seed at all.

My true belief in Jesus Christ did not start by seeing a moved mountain. It began when Jesus met me in my muddy mess. That grew into "God is good all the time" BECAUSE of all the times He reminded me, "I'm right here. Your sin doesn't scare me." It's our unbelief, that His Presence is with us, that breaks His Heart!

I hear God saying this to my heart: "If My children would REMEMBER ME and how I showed up in their brokenhearted midst, seeds of Hope will be planted."

The family that lost their beautiful son, knows all too well the trauma those in the Hill Country are enduring. In REMEMBRANCE of his young life and how God has shown up mightily for them in the past year, they are adjusting their upcoming memorial celebration. They will be attempting a world record team BBQ marathon. They are avid BBQers, their son too,

serious business in TX. For 41 hours they will cook, compete, and share story after story of the amazing love of our good God. And then, those delicious grillings will be trucked to the Hill Country to fuel weary souls AND scatter good seed! In the midst of their own tragedy, no parent, no matter how close to God could fathom enduring!

For 41 hours they lived the horror others are now facing. As that tragic "anniversary" approaches they will gather with many loved ones, and they will REMEMBER, in the midst of many tears, how God showed up in the midst. And then they will feed other hungry souls. With not just some of the best BBQ in TX, but with seeds of Hope! Hope that God can bring good from any tragedy.

But we, as believers MUST be willing to REMEMBER the trauma He turned for good. So that all that is seen is not just the evil. Because we will not be far behind if we ignore our REMEMBER.

Asking help from my prayer warriors out there to cover their memorial event as they break world BBQ records AND REMEMBER our good God who IS ALWAYS WITH US, in the midst of our tragedies. Not always with the answer we pray for, but ALWAYS with us, when it feels like our world just stopped spinning. While the event goes from Sunday the 13th until Tuesday evening, I am asking y'all to start your prayers now. They will need them. And then they will need more as they venture into the devastated Hill Country.

So instead of focusing on the questions that started this post, maybe this would be a better one, "what difference does God make in the face of tragedy?" The difference is Hope. Hope in Jesus, Hope in eternity, Hope in the midst!!!

Sea City Work Camp 2013, Corpus Christi, TX