Redeem

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter: he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress

So writes the psalmist in Psalm 46.

When I was first told of the earthquake in Japan, I kind of assumed that it wasn't a big deal. They are an island nation after all, and earthquakes happen frequently....
but this one was a big deal.

Obviously Japan is very close to my heart because of the time that I've spent there. It just seems so interesting to me that a place like Japan, with all its technology, ambition, and discipline, could be hurt so badly by this. My God is still sovereign over all, but when I see this, I can't help but wonder what He is doing. And I can't help but hope that His purposes will remain, and draw many to Himself through this... maybe this is His way of turning the hearts of the Japanese back to Himself. Oh Lord, that you would redeem this....

This week I've been especially noticing all the brokenness in our world today. Especially broken in the sense of, this is not how things were meant to be. We may live here for now, but this is not our reality. Maybe thats why situations like this make me long even more for a city that cannot be shaken. A government that cannot be corrupted. A people with a unity and purity of purpose.

Its interesting to see the timing of all this - happening right before my trip to Peru with LWB. The last country I went to on a missions trip is being damaged as I'm going to share the gospel in a different country. I'm pretty sure the Lord did this on purpose, but at this point I don't understand why.

And at this point I don't have any answers, except for the fact that although the Lord is allowing all this brokenness and turmoil in Japan and in this world, He has a purpose for it and can redeem it. He is a master at taking the broken and using the exact thing that broke it to make it beautiful.

He has made everything beautiful in its time...
Come Lord. Hosanna - come and save us now