Why did the earthquake happen?
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| ANSWER BY |
| Jennifer Phelps Ollikainen |
When tragedy strikes, we struggle with the big “why” question: Why did this happen? And in most cases, there is no answer. Bad things happen. People we love get sick. Earthquakes happen. For Christians, we turn the question to God.
What really lies beneath the question “why” is a fundamental fear: “Will this happen to me?” In times after tragedy, shocking images of suffering and struggle surround us and break our hearts. It’s no different for children. Like adults, children seek both to comfort others and to be comforted.
The best words children can hear are simple words of reassurance. No matter what happens — natural disasters, sickness, tragedy — God is with us. Even in bad times, God cares for us. As Paul says in Romans, nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
It’s OK to tell children “I don’t know” to the why questions in the face of tragedy and suffering. But don’t leave it at that. Follow up “I don’t know” with reassurance that even amid things we don’t understand, God loves us. God’s love isn’t a guarantee that everything will be easy. It’s a guarantee that even when things are bad and difficult, God will be with us, loving us and providing for us.
One way we know God’s always-there love is in the care shown to us by others. Our impulse to reach out and help shows God’s love working in us. We can pray for God’s suffering children. We can use our gifts — our money, time and talents — to help any way we can.
Rather than being paralyzed by images of tragedy and suffering, live out the love of God in tangible ways:
• Encourage children to save money to give to relief efforts.
• Include those who are suffering in your meal or bedtime prayers.
• Point out the living love of God to your children as you talk about how, after the tragedy, people are helping others and caring for one another.
Dear God,
Help everyone who is hurting and crying today, especially the people of Haiti. Help me to know that you love me and that you are always with me, no matter what happens. And show me how to show your love to others through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
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| This family is among hundreds of earthquake survivors huddled in tents and makeshift shelters in a soccer stadium in the Santa Teresa area of Petionville, Haiti. They have named the narrow passages between their shelters with street names. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians were left homeless by the January 12 quake. A global group of churches (the ACT Alliance) is providing water and other services to this community. |
The best words children can hear are simple words of reassurance. No matter what happens — natural disasters, sickness, tragedy — God is with us. Even in bad times, God cares for us. As Paul says in Romans, nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
It’s OK to tell children “I don’t know” to the why questions in the face of tragedy and suffering. But don’t leave it at that. Follow up “I don’t know” with reassurance that even amid things we don’t understand, God loves us. God’s love isn’t a guarantee that everything will be easy. It’s a guarantee that even when things are bad and difficult, God will be with us, loving us and providing for us.
One way we know God’s always-there love is in the care shown to us by others. Our impulse to reach out and help shows God’s love working in us. We can pray for God’s suffering children. We can use our gifts — our money, time and talents — to help any way we can.
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| People in the Belair neighborhood of Port-au-Prince who survived Haiti's devastating January 12 earthquake enjoyed safe water for the first time on January 21. |
• Encourage children to save money to give to relief efforts.
• Include those who are suffering in your meal or bedtime prayers.
• Point out the living love of God to your children as you talk about how, after the tragedy, people are helping others and caring for one another.
Dear God,
Help everyone who is hurting and crying today, especially the people of Haiti. Help me to know that you love me and that you are always with me, no matter what happens. And show me how to show your love to others through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
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