grief: on the other side of the fence - part 2

i don't mean to be look all excited about having a blog but i just had to write this one. the death toll had reached an escalating number of 150,000, a heartwrenching reminder of the degree of destruction inflicted by the tsunami. reports say the number will go up, especially if the outbreak of epidemic is not prevented. my uncle asks - why do these nations, poor as they are, have to suffer this? and why did God let this happen?

it's an age-old cry, one that begs to be really contemplated. how could we justify keeping the faith with the amount of suffering and calamities happening?

shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?
the story of Job is a tale that can be related to during these troubled times. Job was a good man, but he too suffered indescrible amounts of pain and suffering. his 14 children were killed, his wealth and possessions plundered, servants massacred, and even his own body was afflicted with diseases that branded him an outcast.

while it is only understandable that we cry out to God for help, we cannot declare ourselves innocent of punishment. that is tantamount to accusing God as unjust, and even borders on suggesting we know or understand better than He.

why do we only call out to Him when we are beset by trouble? should we forget all the good that the Lord has done? the Bible advises to build a "trust" fund, an accummulated amount of trust in God during our more comfortable times. reminding ourselves that God makes good on his promises to help us time and again, should help ease or survive the times of hardship.

i cannot afford to explain more on this matter, because i do not want to appear self-righteous (and no, this is not modest pride either). but i myself want to be remember and be comforted. with that, please allow me to write down a few more notes i got from my Bible*
believe me, i didn't come up with these on my own; my Bible has anecdotes, case studies, etc):
1. Some suffering is cased by Satan.
2. God is all powerful and good.
3. Suffering doesn't always come as a result of sin.
4. God will reward and punish fairly in a final judgement after death.
5. God doesn't condemn doubt and despair.
6. No one person has all the facts about suffering (ouch).
7. God is never totally silent.
8. Well-intentioned advice can sometimes do more harm than good (ouch ouch).
9. God asks for faith.
10. Suffering can be used for a higher good.

and God will bless him all the days of his life
"God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (romans 8:28) is often misquoted to refer only to good things. blessings actually can be in any form, good or bad, so long as they lead to His purpose and destiny for you. we are called to be steadfast, trusting in Him always and taking these problems as ways to improve ourselves, to regard them as stepping stones to character and Christlikeness.

another verse (i don't remember which) explains how God knows a person's limits, implying He gives only until to the measure which a person can handle. it is another reminder that God is in control, and these things shall pass.

at the end of this, God does reward Job. so shall He reward those who keep faith.
----
may i say that i am not this perfect Christian, but am a working progress.

----
on another note: in response to the first of this series, UN has asked nations responding with their donations (through hyped media announcements) to sign pledges and to send them asap. turns out, some of them don't make good on their promises in past disasters.

but, why convert them to cash? some of these aid that were sent to these countries in the forms of relief goods and clothes. i may be naive, maybe cash is better. but i'm just worried that it would lead to a mishandling of funds, going into the pockets of politicians rather than the victims.

----
on yet another note, they say that the earthquake was a conspired plot by some organizations, to what purpose i don't know. much as i want to research on them, i may be afraid that by pointing to suspects, i am forgetting the victims.