Where was God in Haiti?

Did God “cause” the earthquake in Haiti?

Did God “allow” it?

Was God in Haiti at the time?

Some high school students asked each other this question today. I’m sure similar queries have echoed through the halls of schools, churches, office corridors, children’s bedrooms, and many of our heads over the last week.

When tragedy strikes, where is God? Do we blame Him, or someone else, or ourselves? Do we blame an impersonal tectonic shift?

I was once taught that all good things come from God. All bad things come from the devil. God allows the bad things to come to train us or prepare us or mold us into stronger people, more filled with virtue or godliness.

Nice theology until the earth shakes and thousands of children are killed or orphaned in an instant. Where is God in this?

Perhaps there is no ultimate meaning in this, no ultimate sense of “justice” or “good” that is supposed to come out of this tragedy to give us a warm, fuzzy feeling of security in the infallibility of our systematic theologies or cosmic view of Karma.

Trying to justify God’s active or inactive role in this tragedy is futile (and even a bit arrogant). Perhaps the earth just shook, and buildings and lives crumbled.

Perhaps the only “meaning” to be found in such disaster is in our response to bring healing and hope and restoration to those most in need. And may God bring mercy and deliverance in this hour of trial.