Why does God allow natural disasters?

Answer: Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, flash floods, avalanches, wildfires, and other natural disasters? Tragedies like the 2026 flash flood and avalanche in Nepal-Tibet cause many people to question God’s goodness. It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.

The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17). Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.

In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.

We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow a tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why does God allow hurricanes to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).

Here is your Word for today: 

Verse:   Psalm 40:2

‘He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.’

– The Lord can lift you out of any situation you may be facing.
– When we think that things look hopeless, He can still do wonders.
– He wants to lift you up today and place your feet on a firm foundation.
– The Lord replaces our weakness with His strength and our fear with His peace.

PRAYER: Lord, how wonderful it is to know that You will always lift me up and out of those situations that would like to drag me down. You give my life purpose and direction and that is why I trust in You. Amen.

Here is your Word for today: 

Verse:   Hosea 6:2

‘After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence.’

– God’s desire for you is that you will see restoration in your life.
– Sometimes it can take a bit of time, but it will come to pass.
– God is able to restore and give new life to you.
– Living daily in God’s presence is the heart of true restoration.

PRAYER: Lord, You are the God Who brings restoration in Your perfect time. Breathe new life into my heart and strengthen me, so that I may walk with You. Fill my days with the joy and peace of living in Your presence. Amen.

THE POWER OF CONSISTENCY

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’

Introduction

• Consistency is a powerful and often underestimated key in our lives and in our walk with the Lord.
• It is not the dramatic moments or the emotional highs that build strong lives.
• It’s the daily decisions to keep going, to stay faithful, and to hold on to what is right, even when it’s hard.
• Galatians 6:9 reminds us: ‘Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.’
• In every area of life consistency builds strength, produces fruit, and shapes our character.
• We are living in a very volatile time in history. It is a time when many things seem unpredictable and unknown. Each day as we wake up we are not sure what has developed overnight. If we are going to make our way through this unstable time it will call for consistency and faith.

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CONSISTENT…

• To be consistent means to be steadfast and faithful in one’s beliefs, actions, and character on an ongoing basis.
• As christians it means that we align ourselves with God’s will and teachings and follow them over time.
• God is consistent, He always remains unchanging and faithful.
• Consistency in our lives reflects God’s Own unchanging nature.
• Consistency is important in the way we conduct our lives because of its positive long-term effects and benefits.
• Consistency usually demonstrates maturity in our lives.
• 1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘Brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord…’

2. WHAT CONSISTENCY IS NOT…

• The opposite of consistent is inconsistent.
• To be inconsistent means we do not remain consistent over time.
• It includes constantly changing to the point of instability and unpredictability.
• To be inconsistent means we are being blown around and losing ground.
• Ephesians 4:14 ‘Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.’
• Inconsistency usually demonstrates immaturity in our lives.
• Inconsistency in the way we conduct our lives leads to negative long-term benefits and effects.

3. TRUSTING GOD CONSISTENTLY THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES

• True consistency is revealed when life doesn’t go as planned.
• Trusting in God’s character, even when everything around us is shaking, is a mark of mature faith.
• Remember Daniel’s friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They remained faithful to God even under the threat of being thrown into a fiery furnace.
• Daniel 3:17-18 ‘Our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us… But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods.’
• They were in fact thrown into the fire, but the Lord was there with them!
• Daniel 3:25 ‘Look! I see four men loose… and the fourth is like the Son of God.’
• Their unwavering consistency not only led to their deliverance, but also moved King Nebuchadnezzar to glorify the true God (Daniel 3:28-29).
• When we remain consistent in our devotion to God, even during trials, it often speaks louder than words.

4. CONSISTENCY PRODUCES FRUIT OVER TIME

• Faithfulness in the small, daily choices of life matter greatly.
• When we do the small things diligently, we will discover that they were not small things at all, in fact they were great things.
• It’s not about perfection, but about direction.
• Staying consistent in reading the Word of God, praying, loving others, and walking in humility builds a foundation of strength that will last.
• Often, it’s not the most gifted, but the most faithful who finish strong.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11 ‘The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.’
• We need to make the best use of the opportunities that come our way and consistency allows those opportunities to produce fruit over time.
• So remember this, quality decisions followed by consistency will produce good fruit over time, any decision (good or bad) followed by inconsistency will ruin the harvest.

5. CONSISTENCY ALSO MATTER IN PRACTICAL AREAS 

• Living a godly life includes how we manage the things God has given us, our time, bodies, health, and energy.
• Eating healthy, getting enough rest, and exercising are not just good habits, they’re part of stewardship and by default consistency.
• A consistent routine helps us live with clarity and focus, freeing us to be more available and effective for God’s work.
• When our physical and mental health are cared for, we are better positioned to serve with joy and endurance.

6. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START

• No matter how inconsistent your past has been, today is an opportunity for a fresh start.
• Lamentations 3:22-23 ‘His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.’
• Ask the Lord to help you grow in your consistency and faithfulness.
• He doesn’t expect you to do it in your own strength, He offers grace for the journey.

7. CONCLUSION

• Consistency may not always feel exciting, but it is powerful.
• It builds trust, strengthens character, and honours God.
• Even when life is hard, God calls us to keep showing up, to keep trusting, and to keep obeying.
• He promises: ‘In due season, we shall reap – if we do not lose heart.’
• So stay the course.
• Even small faithful steps, taken daily, will take you far.
• Matthew 25:23 His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

No Turning Back

“But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.”. Ruth 1:16 (AMP)

The story of Ruth has so many layers to it, each one boasting of the goodness and faithfulness of God towards any heart that is turned to Him. Ruth was a Moabite woman. Her nation came from the linage of Lot’s descendants (Genesis 19:30-37). They were known for wanting to bring cursing and harm to the nation of Israel (Numbers 22-24). When their plan to curse God’s people through a prophet failed, the Moabite king sent women to seduce the Israelite men and introduce them to their own god (Numbers 25:1-5). This way they caused Israel to sin and bring a curse upon herself. Hundreds of years later, Ruth is introduced to an immigrant, Israelite family, from the town of Bethlehem. They had relocated to Moab because of a great famine in their own homeland. Ruth married into that family, but sadly, her father-in-law died. After a period of time, both of the sons died too – leaving Ruth, her sister-in-law, and Naomi, her mother-in-law, alone and without support or protection. After receiving news that the famine in Israel had ended, Naomi made a decision to pack up home and return to Bethlehem. She tried to convince both her daughters-in-law to return to their own families, since she could offer no hope for their futures. However, Ruth refused to turn back. Why would a Moabite widow insist on leaving her homeland to follow her mother-in-law back to Israel? They would have no man to protect them, provide for them, or hold their land. Their choices to earn a living ranged from begging and servitude to prostitution. Yet, Ruth would not leave Naomi. Ruth decided to leave what was familiar and commit herself to Yahweh, the God of Israel. Even though Naomi was bitter and believed God had turned his back on her (Ruth 1:13, 20-21), Ruth’s devotion and loyalty towards her never wavered. Her story is remarkable. In spite of Ruth being a pagan woman from an adulterous people, the Lord honored her loyal heart and caused her to be a part of the lineage of King David, and ultimately the lineage of His Own Son, Jesus. Our heart’s choice in the face of hardship will certainly shape our future too. When hard times come, will you turn back, or like Ruth, remain faithful and place your unwavering trust in God?

Trust Fully in the Lord

“Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. And he went up into the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.” 2 Kings 19:14 (AMPC)

When King Hezekiah made a decision to place his trust in the Lord to protect and provide for His people, he had to put his money where his mouth was. He had to break away from the wicked alliances his predecessors had made with some terrifying kingdoms. When the enemy kingdoms received his decision to stop paying them, they did not hold back their threats, and those threats were not empty! Verses 10-11 relays the terrifying letter Hezekiah received from the King of Assyria: “This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria. You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in their way! Why should you be any different?” The Assyrian king continued to boast in his letter of all the kingdoms, and there were many, who were utterly destroyed because they broke their contracts with the Assyrians and chose to trust in their gods to save them. For Hezekiah, there was no backing away now. He had made his choice and was powerless to save himself and his people from this merciless enemy. His only hope was the Lord God of Israel. Which is why he immediately went before the Lord, spread the letter out before Him and invited Him to intervene. Praise God! Making a deliberate choice to obey God and trust exclusively in Him is exactly what He has always been known for responding to! God certainly took full advantage of the opportunity to prove Himself strong on behalf of His people! You could say, He did a great job of demonstrating His fierce protection over His people, and His power to destroy anyone who threatened their well-being! He gave a very strong and detailed message, through the prophet Isaiah, a far more foreboding threat than the one the Assyrian king had sent. Then in a single night, an angel of the Lord single-handedly killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers camped outside Jerusalem’s walls. In the morning the Assyrian king and what was left of his army fled in terror. Shortly after this, his own sons killed him while he was worshipping his pagan god. Understand, no matter how hopeless your situation, no matter how devastating the threat of the enemy may seem – because of your covenant with God – a threat is all it is. Cast that care on the Lord and place your full trust in Him and His Word. This will release faith into your heart so you can be strong and confident to resist the devil – and see him flee from you in terror!

Protect the Flow of Wisdom

 “But to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”Job 28:28 (AMPC)

The wisest man on earth (outside of Jesus Christ), was King Solomon. While Solomon’s heart was devoted to the Lord and He walked in His ways, everything he touched prospered. The trouble started when he took to himself treaty wives from foreign kingdoms. Solomon had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines! The Bible says in 1 Kings 11:4 that his heart was no longer wholly devoted to the Lord as his father David’s had been. His wives turned his heart away from the Lord and after foreign gods. As a result, the easy stream of God’s wisdom that came unhindered through Solomon’s worshipful fear of the Lord, ceased to flow. The decline in Solomon’s mental and physical well-being was drastic, to the point that he fell into deep depression and quite frankly lost his mind. The most wealthy and blessed man that ever lived cut off the source of his blessing by placing himself in a potion to be led astray through the people he chose to associate with. Proverbs 12:26 and James 4:4 warn us to not align ourselves with the world, because in doing so, we set ourselves against God. It’s really important to understand that his vast wealth and material blessing was from God. God’s flow of wisdom caused Solomon to make wise decisions that brought him supernatural favour and wealth. It wasn’t his wealth or earthly possessions that drew him away from God. The Bible said only in his old age, his heart was led astray by his wives, to go after their gods. Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, which is a dark study on a life lived apart from God. However, right at the end of the book, he wrote: “The conclusion of the whole matter…” Solomon made it clear that there is nothing more essential than a relationship with God and obedience to His Word. He described it as the foundation for a meaningful life. In Ecclesiastes 12:13 he said the worshipful fear of the Lord is God’s original purpose for man and it results in His, “… protective care and timely preparation for future eventualities. Solomon called a heart devoted to God, “the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun…” (AMPC). While we keep our hearts fixed on the Lord, and our lives living in obedience to His ways, we protect the unhindered flow of His wisdom and blessing upon our lives. Know today, this is His intended purpose for you.