Feeling helpless but not hopeless

I feel helpless. It is hard to hear about the destruction, the death, the extreme hunger and desperation gripping people in the Philippines, especially the city of Tacloban that received the brunt of the typhoon. The official death toll is 1,774 but expected to dramatically rise; and this does not consider begin to consider the 600,000 displaced and many who may die from injuries or starvation or thirst. What can I do?

I am helpless personally, but also grateful for the many who are responding from around the world. I am grateful that our country is sending support and I pray the world will mobilize to offer aid.

Some will point at this event as a sign of the end-times. As natural disasters increase, they say, it is a sign that Jesus' return is close.

Jesus' own words caution us away from such a conclusion. He said, "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately. ...there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.  (Luke 21:9-11). These "dreadful portents" will happen--but "the end will not follow immediately."

Instead, Jesus calls his disciples to look for opportunities to witness that Jesus is Lord. He specifically talks about Christians being brought before Emperors and governors. Towards the end of the first century, some Christians were brought before Governor Pliny in Bithynia and asked to curse Christ and make sacrifice to Emperor Trajan:

Meanwhile, this is the method I have followed with those who were brought before me as Christians. I asked them directly if they were Christians. The ones who answered affirmatively I questioned again with a warning, and yet a third time: those who persisted I ordered led [away]. For I have no doubt, whatever else they confessed to, certainly [this] pertinacity and inflexible obstinacy ought to be punished. There were others alike of madness, whom I noted down to be sent to the City, because they were Roman citizens. Soon in consequence of this policy itself, as it was made standard, many kinds of criminal charges occurred and spread themselves abroad. A pamphlet was published anonymously, containing the names of many.

Those who denied that they were or ever had been Christians, when they swore before me, called on the gods and offered incense and wine to your image (which I had ordered brought in for this [purpose], along with images of the gods), and also cursed Christ (which, it is said, it is impossible to force those who are real Christians to do) I thought worthy to be acquitted. Others named by an informer, said they had been Christians, but now denied [it]; certainly they had been, but had lapsed, some three years ago, some more; and more than one [lit. not nobody] over twenty years ago. These all worshiped both your image and the images of the gods and cursed Christ.

Jesus encourages Christians to persevere--and use these opportunities to witness that Christ is their Lord and Savior.

Likewise, when terrible things happen in the world like Typhoon Haiyan, this is an opportunity for us to witness that Christ is our Lord. We witness to others when we tell them not to spend time worrying about the end of the age but to trust in Jesus and follow him into lives of service. We witness by our prayers to God on behalf of the suffering. We witness by encouraging the US Government to send speedy and generous support. We witness by donating our own money to be a sign of God's grace and mercy. Lutheran World Relief is already at work and can use your donation either online or through St. John's or other churches. We witness when we tell others that we do these things for God's glory and because we are God's servants. Consider one or more of these ways to witness who your Lord is!

When we feel helpless, we are not hopeless because Christ is Lord!