Where’s God in a Tornado?
Reflections on a recent natural disaster in my hometown
On March 4th my hometown experienced an EF-1 tornado. They forecasted the possibility of a small, brief spin-up and we were right in the middle of it. However, year after year—for the most part—these spin-ups (or even bigger ones) go north or south of us. Or they dissipate before arriving. It’s been a long time since my town has experienced a real, damaging disaster like this.
I don’t know of any fatalities, but I heard of at least one person being critically injured. Regardless, the tornado did plenty of damage. I remember waking up at about 5 a.m. to the sound of a storm. I immediately checked the radar; the moment I noticed it was tornado-warned our security system chimed and that means there’s officially a tornado warning. Those warnings encompass the whole county, and many times if you know where the warning is and where it’s headed—depending on your location—you don’t need to worry.
This warning, however, was right on top of us. So we decided to put our new storm shelter to use and hunker down with our two children and dog who had no idea why I was dragging him underground.
Fast-forward later that day, and there is a considerable amount of damage to the city. Thankfully for us, our side didn’t really get anything. There was absolutely no damage to our addition. But we have a few church members who did get hit considerably. Additionally, plenty of people went without power for days, having to re-purchase groceries.
If you live in Oklahoma, you know there’s always a possibility for a tornado during the spring months, definitely May. So this is nothing new, but this time the tornado actually went through our town.
What do we make of this? Why does God allow natural disasters to occur that lead to injuries, damage, and even death? Where can we find God in the tornado? If God is sovereign, why does He not calm the tornado like Jesus calmed the storm? These are worthwhile questions to ask. But I strongly believe there are worthwhile answers.
Why does God allow natural disasters to occur that lead to injuries, damage, and even death?
Let me press even further into this question. Because I believe in the sovereignty of God, I don’t think He merely allows natural disasters to occur; rather, I believe He causes them to happen. Nothing—and that means nothing—happens outside God’s sovereign reign. God controls the weather when it’s 75 degrees and sunny; He also controls the weather when 110 mph winds whirl through town and cause lots of damage.
Why, then, does God cause natural disasters to happen? I don’t really know. But simply from reading Scripture, we can understand that natural disasters occur because of original sin. Humans were not the only thing corrupted by the fall of man. Creation was impacted, too. Natural disasters happen; famines occur; and everything in between.
God causes all of it to happen. Does that make God evil? To quote the Apostle Paul: By no means! God does whatever He pleases. He is the sovereign one, not us. His ways are not our ways.
Where can we find God in the tornado?
You can find God on His throne during a tornado; the same place He was during 9/11, for example. I don’t mean that to be insensitive to people truly struggling with these questions. Tragedies are indeed awful. Terrorism is evil; tornados are catastrophic. But that doesn’t mean God has left His throne. It doesn’t mean God is aloof, or that He went on vacation and needed a break from us for a bit.
No, He’s on His throne like He’s always been, ruling and ordaining all things from it. Here are a few verses which establish that.
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19).
“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
“I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).
There are many more verses just like these that speak to God’s sovereign reign, His decree, and plan for the world. But take a look at the last verse. Please don’t misunderstand: God is not confessing that He is the author of evil. God is not vindictive or tyrannical. No; this verse is saying that all things come from Him (“I am the Lord, who does all these things”).
Think about it. Who would God be if He wasn’t the one orchestrating all things? I’ll answer for you: He’d cease to be God. He wouldn’t be sovereign. But God is sovereign; He is in control; all things—whether tornado or sun—do come from His hands.
If God is sovereign, why does He not calm the tornado like Jesus calmed the storm?
I would have to have a sneak peak into God’s perfect and sovereign will, but no one has that knowledge except for the Godhead. God could certainly have calmed the tornado on March 4th, but He instead ordained for it to happen. Why? I don’t ultimately know. I do know, however, simply by reading Scripture that God uses catastrophes and natural disasters to draw people unto Himself.
Many reject the Lord because of tragedies; but many also are drawn to the Lord in the midst of it. We don’t have to know why God ordains natural disasters; to be honest, we don’t need to know. But what I do know is God is sovereign and good. Perhaps one will ask, “How can God bring about anything good from such tragedy?”
That happens all the time. More than anything else, it happened through the most wicked act in history, the death of His Son. God brings about the salvation of His people through the horrific murder of Jesus. So we must understand God uses horrible events to save people, or to strengthen the faith of those already His.
I know from my experience that though I am terrified of tornados, I still trust the Lord with my life. Whether He gives or takes away, whether He causes the sun to shine or the rain to fall, I know God is with me and all His children.