Drawn by Disaster

Welcome to today's devotional reading from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Tom Felton, and I titled today's encouragement, Drawn by Disaster. In 1717, a devastating storm raged for days, leading to widespread flooding in northern Europe. Thousands of people lost their lives in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.

History reveals an interesting and customary, for that time, response by at least one local government. The provincial authorities of the Dutch city of Kroningen called for a prayer day in response to the disaster. A historian reports that the citizens gathered in churches and listened to sermons, sang psalms, and prayed for hours. The prophet Joel describes an overwhelming disaster faced by the people of Judah that also led to prayer.

A massive swarm of locusts had covered the land and laid waste its vines and ruined its fig trees. As he and his people reeled from the devastation, Joel prayed, Lord, help us. Directly and indirectly, both the people of northern Europe and Judah experienced disasters that originated with the effects of sin in this fallen world. But they also found that these times led them to call out to God and seek him in prayer. And God said, even now, return to me with all your heart. When we face difficulties and disaster, may we turn to God, perhaps in anguish, perhaps in repentance.

Compassionate and abounding in love, he draws us to himself, providing the comfort and help we need. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Joel chapter 1 verses 1 through 7 and 19 through 20. What the locust swarm has left, the great locusts have eaten. What the great locusts have left, the young locusts have eaten.

What the young locusts have left, other locusts have eaten. Wake up, you drunkards, and weep. Wail, all you drinkers of wine. Wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips. A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number.

It is the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness. It has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees. It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving their branches white. And now, picking up at verse 19. To you, Lord, I call. For fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness, and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you.

The streams of water have dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. Heavenly Father, thank you for being there when we face the harsh realities of life. Help us to call out to you and find the hope, healing, and refining you alone can provide in the face of difficulty. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.