The drought is getting worse and the fire emergency is escalating: our weather is causing grief to us all, and some far more than others.

The Bible has recorded some events in history when God brought about severe weather incidents as a way of punishing people.

Yet, when Jesus was questioned about a natural disaster that happened during his life on earth, he quickly pointed out that God doesn’t bring about these kinds of events in order to punish specific sins in specific people.

Jesus said, “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.” (Luke 13:2-3)

This means that it’s wrong and insensitive to suggest that the current bushfire and drought emergency is a special punishment from God for any recent community actions.

For, whilst God is in control of everything in his creation, he does not use these kinds of disasters to specifically punish people for particular sins.

In fact, Jesus said that God “gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45).

However it is also true that every time tragedy or hardship affects us, we should stop and think about the coming judgement of every one of us.

This means that every tragedy is a wake-up call from God to make sure we’ve taken refuge in Jesus, who promises to protect us from judgement when we trust in him as our loving ruler and rescuer.

At this time of fire and drought we should pray for those who are suffering and use this moment to make sure we’ve each, personally made peace with God.

JODIE McNEILL

When we woke on Tuesday morning, we were bracing for a fire disaster in the almost-unprecedented ‘catastrophic’ fire conditions in Jamberoo and our surrounds.

Before I joined my RFS compatriots at our local station to stand by for a fire call, I shared on Facebook a prayer for our troubled country which was written by Archbishop Glenn Davies.

The prayer said, “Father we pray, in your mercy, restrain the forces of nature from creating catastrophic damage; in your mercy protect human life.”

As we patrolled the roads and lanes of our valley in our RFS tanker, scanning the horizons for any sign of smoke, we listened to the weather forecast climb from severe to extreme.

I kept praying, and you know what? Nothing happened.

Even though the trees bent over from the high winds, and the temperature rose to high 30’s, and the humidity fell to single figures, there were no fires, no damage, and most importantly, no loss of life.

God powerfully answered our prayers, and we have so much to rejoice for.

At times like this where we are spared from disaster we can be tempted to think that nothing spectacular happened: after all, it’s just another day without a terrible fire.

But as we asked, God has answered.

Yet, as we give thanks to God for powerfully and mercifully sparing the Illawarra from fire destruction, there are many thousands of people suffering as we speak from the effects of fire in our land.

Knowing how wonderfully God answered prayer on Tuesday in our valley we can confidently pray that God will protect property and lives in the coming days and weeks.

And above all, that whatever happens, we might find comfort in the Lord who is powerful, merciful and gracious.

JODIE McNEILL

Have you noticed how often Jesus tells people in his kingdom to be like children?

Until recently, I’ve thought that he was only talking about how we are unable to earn our salvation in any way.

But as I’ve read Paul E. Miller’s book, ‘A Praying Life’, I’ve now seen that the childlikeness Jesus refers to should also include the way that we approach him in prayer.

We are tempted to think that we need to present prayers to him that are all ‘grown up’, with everything neat and tidy.

Yet, when a child speaks to a parent, they just speak the first thing that comes into their mind, and they don’t really worry about having a polished presentation.

What’s more, a child is happy to ask over and over again for what they want, showing little restraint with their requests, almost to the point of rudeness.

These child-like behaviours would normally be discouraged in mature, grownups, and yet this is exactly the kind of way that God wants us to approach him in prayer.

So, if you’re feeling distant from God and finding it difficult to pray, then just start talking to God with the first thing that comes into your mind.

It may not be eloquent, and it might end up sounding a bit repetitive and insistent, but that’s exactly the way that kids talk to mum and dad… and the way that Jesus wants us to talk to our Father.

This should come as a great relief if you’re finding it hard to know where to start in your prayers.

You just need to start talking to God like a child talks to his parent, and humbly bring your requests to him.

And we can know with confidence that he will hear us and answer us as is best for us… what a relief!

JODIE McNEILL