At the time of publication, at least 105 people have died from devastating flash floods that swept through central Texas on the 4th of July.
Heavy thunderstorms dropped an entire summer’s worth of rain in some areas overnight, causing the Guadalupe River to rise a record 26 feet in just 45 minutes. The wall of water swept away buildings, vehicles, and people. For most people, the massive floods came as a surprise, despite warnings issued through the night by the National Weather Service. Search and rescue teams continue to look for the dozens still missing.
Several youth camps are situated in the scenic Texas Hill Country. Many were affected. Camp Mystic, a beloved Christian girls’ camp on the banks of the Guadalupe, was hit particularly hard. Twenty-seven campers and counselors are confirmed dead. At least ten campers are still missing.
President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Texas, making Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds available to help with emergency services and rebuilding, saying the floods were “Horrible, just horrible.” He plans to visit Texas this week.
The tragedy is causing many to question their faith. “I just can’t get over the idea that this terrible tragedy mainly did a huge hit on this Christian camp and God allowed it to happen,” wrote fluttershysaysyay in a lengthy post on Reddit.
It’s a fair question. Where was God?
God With Us
The Bible tells us the story of a God who loves His children more than they can ever know and suffers with them in their pain. He is the Creator who knelt in the dirt to fashion His best creation, then came looking for His wayward children when they hid from Him.
He is our Savior who left the glories of heaven, descended into the ugliness of our pain, lived it with us for 33 years, and then died of a broken heart because of our sins. He really is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
When we are hurting, we can know that God is close, for “the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18).
Heroes in the Crisis
God showed up in Texas through the thousands of people who have volunteered their time to rescue flood victims, search for the missing, and comfort the grieving. Many are true heroes.
Dick Eastland, Camp Mystic director, gave his life trying to save campers. “I don’t know a more gracious, humble, servant-hearted person,” said Baptist author Jim Denison. “I wasn’t surprised when the news said that he had died trying to save some of the campers. That was just who he was.”
At the River Inn Resort, the general manager and his wife woke up over 100 guests and helped them get safely to higher ground. Scott Ruskan, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, saved at least 165 people during the floods. It was the first rescue mission of his career. Ruskan is humble about his efforts: “I was just doing my job.”
Humble heroes like this are God’s hands and feet in Texas.
Why Did God Allow The Floods?
There are no easy answers to this question. But there is one simple fact that pulls back the curtain just a little: We live on a battlefield.
Ever since Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lies, our earth has been a battleground between good and evil. This world is not functioning as God intends it to.
That’s why Jesus came to live with us, win the battle over Satan, and redeem what has been lost. God will not allow this suffering to continue forever. There will soon come a day when all will clearly see the issues at stake and God forever puts an end to sin.
Warn the Sleepers!
The Texas floods serve as a grim reminder of the importance of having adequate warning systems. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch warning on Thursday, July 3. Repeated warnings were sent out during the night. But most people were asleep. For many, the first time they knew of the flooding was when the wall of water hit.
Kerr County, where the flooding hit hardest, considered installing a flood warning system in 2017. But despite living in “Flash Flood Alley,” the county decided the warning system would be too expensive after it lost a bid for a $1 million grant to fund the project. Vacancies at the National Weather Service offices in Texas may also have contributed to the loss of life.
The lesson for us as Christians is clear. Just as people lived without thought of God in Noah’s day, so many today live as if life will continue forever. They do not know that the day will soon come when Jesus will descend in the clouds to put an end to sin and suffering.
Like Noah, God is calling each of us to be “preacher[s] of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Whatever our profession, we are called to share the love of Jesus and warn people to turn away from their sins so that they can be saved for all eternity. We cannot afford to leave our post of duty vacant.
A Call to Prayer
Above all, the Texas floods are a call to prayer. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott invited Texans to make Sunday, July 6, a day of prayer for those affected by the floods. He issued a proclamation that stated in part: “Throughout our history, Texans have been strengthened, assured, and lifted up through prayer… I urge Texans of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds to offer prayers on that day for the healing of individuals, safety of our first responders and public safety officers, rebuilding of communities, and restoration of the region struck by this disaster.”
Let us join our prayers with those of the Texans—that God would bring healing to all who have been hurt, and that many would turn to Jesus through this difficult circumstance.
To gain a deeper understanding of how to survive tragedy and loss with your faith intact, please watch Pastor Doug’s sermon, “Coping through Tough Times,” which offers biblical answers for times of sorrow.