Finding Happiness After Fires and Floods

As the years go by, we are seeing an increase in natural disasters and more extreme weather that is causing havoc around the world. Many people are losing their homes and their lives. Over the last 12 months, we have experienced strong hurricanes in the South. Plus, we are still dealing with the effects of the fires in Los Angeles. 

The Los Angeles fires have been especially devastating. Many people in southern California have lost their homes, and some have died. The people who are affected may believe that their lives are over, but that’s not true. Yes, your home may be gone, but you can still find happiness after fires and other disasters by putting your faith in God. 

I know it may seem impossible to thank God during a time like this, but He has a reason for everything. Plus, there are some things to be happy about. Let me explain.

Why Bad Things Happen

After a natural disaster or terrible event takes place, people often say something to the effect of, “Why would a good God allow bad things to happen?” It can be hard to wrap your mind around why such terrible things would happen if your Christian friends tell you that God is so loving and merciful. There are several reasons why bad things happen:

We Live in a Fallen World

As soon as Adam and Eve were tricked by the devil in the Garden of Eden and ate of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, they created a fallen world. The devil now rules this planet. The world is no longer perfect. Now, Satan tempts us, and he tricks us into thinking that money and the things of this world are better than following God. 

In the Garden of Eden, things were perfect. There would never be a fire, hurricane, or earthquake because God made the place perfect. Now, because of the sins of the first man and woman, we have to pay for eternity. However, there’s another aspect to consider:

God May Be Testing Us

You read about many gods in fiction who demand that the people praise and bow before them. The God of heaven doesn’t do that. Instead, he gives us free will. He wants us to obey and love him, but he doesn’t demand it. 

Of course, if you do believe that his son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for our sins and you are born again and turn from sin, then you’ll also get the reward of going to heaven. When terrible things happen, a true Christian will still be happy because they know that God will still provide their basic needs and they’ll spend an eternity in heaven after they die. 

I believe that God is hoping that you will realize what he does for you, even when bad things happen, so you can become one of his children and be with him forever. If you want to learn more about things like this in the bible, refer to when God speaks to Solomon in 2nd Chronicles 7:12-22.

God May Be Punishing People

God is a long-suffering entity. Since we all sin, we all fall well below his expectations. That’s why the only way we can get to heaven is by believing in what Jesus Christ did on the cross and turning from our sins.

Still, at some point, even God can have enough, and as a result, people may feel his wrath. Let’s go to the bible for some support.

• 1st Chronicles 21:11-14 – In this example, King David wanted to repent for his sins. He made some bad decisions, and he was truly sorry. However, a punishment was still due. So, God allowed David to choose from three options. The options were three years of famine in the land, three months where his enemies would kill people in his land, or three days of an extreme plague that would kill many people in the land.

It is possible that someone in the world, possibly a world leader, sinned, and God is punishing the land and the people in it for their mistake.

• Numbers 25:1-9 – In this example in the Old Testament, the Isrealietes turned away from the God and instead were praising a false god named baal. This was the last straw after many bad behaviors. As punishment, God caused a plague that killed 24,000 of them. In America, people pray to false gods, but they also idolize other things, like money, expensive houses, cars, and other people. 

These days, God seems to have a bit more grace since he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross. However, if you watch the news, you’ll hear about more plagues and pandemics, so something like this is possible. 

How You Can Find Happiness After a Fire or Disaster

No one expects you to see devastation on the news and be happy about it. Even a Christian would need a moment or even a few days to collect themselves after seeing their house and all of their possessions destroyed. However, you cannot let that feeling stay. It may seem hard, but you can find happiness after a tragedy if you keep your eyes on God.

Here are some steps to follow:

1. Remember That You’re Still Alive

It will likely be scary to find that your house has been damaged or destroyed and all of your belongings are gone. You may feel like life as you know it is over. However, focus on the good side of things. You faced a very dangerous situation and you lived. You have your health. Plus, you likely have money in a bank account that allows you to buy food, replace some of your belongings, and put a roof over your head. These are all good things. 

Plus, you are alive. This means you’ll get another chance to see your kids again or your parents or the other friends and loved ones that you hold so dear. If you realize that God saved your life, and you visit your friends, and you show them how happy you are regardless of what happened, they’ll ask you how you could possibly be happy. You can then do your part to tell them about what God and Jesus Christ did for you. Doing so could help them to become saved, born again, and go to heaven when their time finally comes.

2. You Still Have What Matters Most

This is a good time to remember that God will never let you down when it comes to your basic necessities. You may need to rebuild your house, but life as you know it is not over. You will always have something to eat every day. You’ll always have some sort of shelter. Think about what you have instead of what you lost. Not only will you feel better, but you may also grow closer to God. That’s one step closer to being saved, born again, and securing your ticket to heaven. 

3. You Get a Second Chance to Go to Heaven

If you were not a born-again Christian who realized that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, and you died in that fire or flood, you would go to hell. The only way that you can guarantee that you won’t go to hell is to repent for your sins and realize that the one true God has always been there for you. People go to hell because we all fall short of God’s glory. That may not seem fair, but that’s the way it is. 

Now that your life has been spared, you have a second chance to secure your place in heaven. Use it wisely. God likely spared you for that reason. Start going to church. Go to bible studies so you can learn more about our heavenly Father and learn to appreciate all he has done for us. Then, you can get baptized, ask Jesus Christ to be your personal savior, and be born again. You’ll have a whole new life. Then, you can tell your family and friends and save them from an eternity in hell so they can join you for an eternity in heaven.

Want To Be Truly Happy?

Accept Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior. Whether we like it or not, we are all sinners, but Jesus paid the ultimate price so we can be forgiven and go to heaven after we die. By accepting Jesus and accepting that he died on the cross and that his blood covers our sins, we can be forgiven and finally be truly happy. We can forget about the stress and anxiety of this world and look forward to a wonderful life in heaven. 

All you have to do is pray, ask for Jesus to be your savior, and ask for forgiveness of your sins. If you really mean it, you can be born-again. You won’t be so obsessed with the bad things in this world and you can be truly happy. 

Will you take the big step?