Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Galatians 6:2-5
The word for load in Galatians 6:5 was a common term for a man's backpack. The word for burdens in Galatians 6:2 was a different word meaning “heavy burdens” – those that are more than a man should carry. In the end, we are all responsible for our own work, but we can help bear the burdens of others.
That’s true on an ordinary day but comes to center focus on days like we are experiencing now. Hurricane Helene rampaged and ravaged through homes and communities with unimaginable devastation. The numbers of dead and missing change daily. Billions and billions of dollars are estimated to bring some kind of basic restoration to roads completely ripped up and gone. It will be weeks and months before power is restored. Many are prisoners in their own homes, unable to reach help or have help reach them. Devastating is not a big enough word. Our friends in Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia are in agony we can barely imagine.
Even here in Ohio, though we did not experience Helene as they did, we are shocked, our hearts are broken, and even the weather here for days cried. It poured rain and then the drizzles and clouds remained. The view from the window was dismal and dark.
Questions arise. Why did God allow this? Well, I can’t tell you. We live in a broken world, God created nature good but when mankind sinned, all of God’s creation was broken. Nature too. Most of the time God doesn’t step in at this point and overrule the brokenness, although He can. I don’t know the whys and why nots in the events in our world. Asking “why”? is not a helpful question for me. Jesus didn’t come to answer all the questions in the here and now. He came to save and free us from the power of darkness and to show us God who is always with us.
Don’t feel bad and think you are a bad Christian during storms because you ask questions and feel hard emotions. God made you, gets you, and loves you. He is not angry with you. What IS helpful, however, is to remember that God is good. Always. Even when I can’t see and understand. I believe He is even when I can’t prove it and don’t understand it. God is too big for me to understand or control, but I do know that God is good and faithful and is not ignoring me. He loves me and is present even in my struggles.
The other thing that is helpful is to remember that in this situation the best question I can ask is, “How can I be the hands and feet of Jesus to make a difference?” The church has always risen to the occasion to love and act like Jesus in these heartbreaks and tragedies. The hands and feet of Jesus. That’s why we’re here.
The following verses highlight this truth: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB).
The idea here is similar – the presence of light in darkness is something that is unmistakable. The presence of Christians in the world must be like a light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings light to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also in the sense that our good deeds must be evident for all to see. And indeed, our deeds will be evident if they are performed in accordance with the other principles that Jesus mentions in this passage, such as the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11. Notice especially that the concern is not that Christians would stand out for their own sake, but that those who look on might “glorify your Father who is in heaven” (v. 16, KJV). This is our time to act and shine and be the light of Jesus in this world.
And you and everyone else can be sure – the sun is going to rise again. God never leaves things broken and undone. He is even now in the process of working with His people to bring light into broken souls and beauty and order to the world again.
That’s not just true for Hurricane Helene victims. It’s true for you in your storm too.
Besides your prayers, I urge you to help NewPointe shine for Jesus by going to newpointe.org to see where you can support Hurricane Relief. We are purchasing pallets of self-food, water, baby necessities, and hygiene items and having them trucked to specific areas, as well as supporting Eight Days of Hope.