Biblical Perspective on Natural Disasters for Christian Youth

Introduction and Congregation Overview

This sermon is prepared for youth students between the ages of thirteen and twenty years. The church comprises diverse individuals in terms of age, racial affiliation, gender, and socioeconomic background. In terms of age, the congregation includes children up to eleven years old, youth between thirteen and twenty years, young adults, and older adults in their sixties. Church members also come from different racial backgrounds, including white, Black, and Latino Americans. In terms of gender, the congregation is both male and female, drawn from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds as measured through varying education levels, income, and employment status.

Natural Disasters and the Questions They Raise

Images streaming from natural disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which affected several countries including Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Australia, evoke emotions of fear, compassion, sorrow, and a spirit of sacrifice. In such situations, most individuals find it challenging to comprehend the full magnitude of the destruction caused by these disasters. Disaster creates a crisis and raises many questions. Perhaps many people would ask, "Where was God?", "Why did he let it happen?", or "Does he care?" Some people choose to believe that disasters happen because of the laws of nature, mainly because the earth was already cursed as a result of the sin committed by Adam and Eve. Today, we want to address natural disasters from a biblical perspective to offer insight for young Christians like yourselves.

In Psalm 66, God is praised not for the tragedy itself, but for his unseen work during the tragedy. This chapter clearly demonstrates humanity's dependence on God's greatness in times of crisis and trouble. Many believe this psalm was written after the deliverance of Hezekiah during a time of great natural distress. Natural disasters, just like accidents and illnesses, leave us with many questions about the nature of God and morality. Unfortunately, people tend to rush into judging occurrences like the tsunami, often reaching erroneous conclusions. As Christians, however, we should ask ourselves what such disasters say about God and whether the Bible addresses topics such as tsunamis. The answer is yes. It is written in scripture:

God's Might Revealed in Scripture and Nature

"The seas have lifted, O LORD; the seas have lifted their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea — the LORD on high is mighty" (Ps. 93:3–4).

The first principle we should grasp as Christians from this scripture is that God is mighty. In thinking about a natural disaster such as the tsunami, we see God's might reflected in nature. In most cases, we marvel at it. When we watch the sunset, hike to a mountain top, or go fishing and catch a salmon, we marvel at the wonders of God. However, we are also terrified by his might, especially when disasters happen. This challenges our thoughts about God, life, and control — and perhaps that last word comes as a surprise. As we affirm God's might, we also affirm that he is in total control and that we as human beings are not. Some of us, especially young people, may not find that entirely comfortable. For most, it is uncomfortable to be confronted with their own helplessness.