Blessing Rising from Rubble

I was a missionary in Haiti for seven months in 1983. Years later I took a church group there. I developed relationships with many Haitians. Some were good friends. I’ve been to the areas in and around Port-au-Prince and know all the street names and places that are in the news—they were the nicest parts of town. I’ve been to buildings that are now flattened, stayed in houses that slid down the hillside. Recent photos of the earthquake’s devastation bring me to tears. I so badly wish I could be there right now.

I’ve shared experiences of the Haitian people’s constant suffering. They often likened Haiti to hell and America to heaven. In many ways, it’s true. Today I yelled at God, “Haven’t they already suffered enough?” The city and the people may never fully recover from this. How can they when all they have to move the rubble is their hands, most professionals have left the country, and their land is largely stripped bare? Right now they have little but foreign aid. And no amount of generosity can really be enough, because they need to stand on their own feet. But they never could before, and now their misery will be deeper than ever.

“Haven’t they already suffered enough?” can be asked of millions—no billions—of people around the world. Maybe I’m a let-me-help-ease-your-suffering answer to the question. Maybe you are too.

Long after Haiti is out of the news, catastrophe will hit somewhere else: Central America, Africa, Asia. Don’t be surprised when it hits the USA. Sooner or later, every one of us will have opportunity to become an answer to the perennial questions of “Why, God?” and “Who will help them?”

Whenever and in whatever way those questions come to you, please—please—become a good answer.

If you do, from whatever kind of ruin, you can rise as a blessing.

PRAYER: Lord, how can I become an answer to my prayers for a hurting world? Show me and I will follow.

“The Lord pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help. . . The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged,” Psalm 34:15,18 NET.

Today’s devotion is by Peter Lundell, author of Prayer Power. A rising new voice on connecting with God, he is a pastor, Bible college teacher, and conference speaker. Visit him at www.PeterLundell.com for his inspirational “Connections” and free downloads of articles, parables, short stories, and book chapters.