On November 13, 2016, a series of devastating earthquakes rocked New Zealand. The strongest was estimated at 7.8 on the Richter scale. Two deaths were reported on the day of the disaster.
It seemed like a repeat of the 2011 earthquake that hit the same country. Except in the 2011 quake, 185 people lost their lives. The 2011 quake registered 6.3 on the Richter scale.
What made the difference?
According to one blogger who knows New Zealand well, it had a lot to do with the time of day. In 2016, the quake happened at night, and most people were safely in their homes. No one was out and about to be killed by falling debris.
Disasters will rock our lives, bringing events showering down on our heads. We can’t change that. What we can do something about is what we have over our heads.
What shelters us? What’s our protection when our world begins to rock and roll? Where is our safety when nothing seems safe anymore?
We can find our shelter in Psalms 23:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
There is no magic safety net in life, not even when we draw close to God. Two people still died in the 2016 quake. Two too many. However, as David says, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
When we find our strength in God, even an earthquake can’t shake our assurance in him.
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