Earthquake in Syria and Turkey

We check the news and the death toll keeps rising.  The scale of this disaster is overwhelming.  The human community is reeling.

In the midst of it all, we can ask:  How would God have us look at this?  How are we to understand a world in which such seemingly random, dread­fully severe suffering strikes as it does?  Let me offer a few ideas:

1. “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).  Resist the impulse to accuse God of wrong, and instead cover your mouth.  “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away” (Job 1:21).  Does the pot have a right to find fault with the Potter (Rom 9:20)?  The Lord does not answer to us:  we answer to Him.
2. “The Lord reigns” (Pss 96:10; 99:1; 115:3), even now—as always.
3. God does not always disclose his purposes to us.  Some questions remain unanswered in this life.  The Lord has all eternity to put things right, and he does what he does in his own good time.
4. Seek answers in God’s Word.  Don’t let the panic of the moment propel you away from the only Source of Truth that can provide a solid footing in this world’s swamp of sorrow.  Read Job 1-2 and 38-41; Luke 13:1-9; John 9:1-5; Prov 1:7; Luke 8:25; Pss 104:32; 147:15-18; Amos 3:6; Isaiah 45:7.  Among other things, the Word teaches that even when Satan is instrumental in human suffering, God is not caught off-guard or held hostage by the Enemy:  afflic­tion is permitted purposefully, and one purpose is to humble hearts and drive us to our knees in repentance (Luke 13:3).  Disasters are a wake up call to a world snoozing in the dreamland of earthly pleasures:  life is short, insecure, and dangerous; seize the moment (while it lasts) and run to Christ for mercy and eternal life.
5. Weep with those who weep (Rom 12:15).  Love your neighbors (Luke 10:25-37), including those in far-away places who suffer.
6. Contribute to relief efforts (e.g., through World Relief, Samaritan's Purse, or World Vision).
7. Pray for the church in the region--not only for their well being, but also that the Lord would enable our Syrian and Turkish brothers and sisters in Jesus to love and serve their neighbors in this time of catastrophe.  Operation World gives info on how to pray for Syria and Turkey.  Open Doors provides profiles of the persecuted church in Turkey and in Syria).

As a parting word, let me recommend several on the topic of "natural disasters" at the Desiring God website.