Be Still and Know that I Am God

Be still and Know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

This has been my prayer over the last week and continues to speak to my heart.  It is hard to understand why there is so much turmoil in the world right now and I can easily get caught up in "why God?", but He keeps reminding me to "be still and know that I am God".  And therefore, still very much in control.

The Prime Minister of Japan has been quoted in saying that this is the worst disaster since WWII.  I am so saddened and in shock as I watch the footage from the tsunami caused by a major earthquake that has destroyed much of northern Japan.  Thousands of people have lost there lives and assumable the number will continue to rise as the waters recede.  The Japanese people who have survived the natural disaster have an unbelievable task in front of them in order to "get back to normal".  On top of the tsunami disaster, there are several nuclear power plants that were hit in a direct line of fire from the tsunami waves causing them to malfunction and one is currently leaking radioactive material.  This is scary stuff and is easy to ask where  God is in all of this.  He continues to remind me that He is still in control--Be still and know that I am God.

I have also been watching closely, the turmoil in Libya and how Gadhafi has responded to such uprising.  It is hard for me to understand the turmoil the people of Libya have to rise and face everyday.  What is happening in Libya is especially important to me at this time, since Ethiopia is so close.  My family is there and I am praying daily for their safety.  That God would protect them and their experiences.   

I subscribe to a weekly email called GotQuestions.org.  They sent out an email shortly after the Tsunami in Japan asking the question "Why does God allow natural disasters?"  Here is a quote from that email.

  Such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies.    

We continue to receive emails daily from Holt updating us on the situation regarding possible changes with the Ethiopian adoption program.  At this time, we do not have any for sure information.  Last we learned on Friday, that there will be a meeting between the US Embassy and Ministry of Women, Children’s and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA).  In my last post, I stated that it was the Ethiopian government wanting to make the change, but it seems as though it is this entity of the government (MOWCYA) who is actually wanting to make the change.  And they will have to go through higher levels of authority in order for the change to pass.  Matt and I have a sense of peace about the situation and know that it will be worked out.  We are not entirely sure what the program will look like once there is a decision, but we trust that there will be  resolution.  "Be still and know that I am God."