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Eye on the World: flooding in Colorado
Unusually heavy rains in northern Colorado brought flash floods last week, swelling streams and destroying about 1,500 buildings. Though search-and-rescue teams began combing the affected areas to evacuate stranded residents, heavy fog interfered with operations over the weekend. President Obama declared a major disaster in Colorado, and authorized federal funds to be used to help victims; meanwhile, officials said rivers could continue to rise for several days. The city of Boulder, Colorado has become a refuge for evacuees from more rural areas, as its essential services are already being restored.
Our prayers can be a powerful aid to those affected in Colorado, as we insist that God is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1 ), calming fears and bringing help and inspiration to those who need it.
“Earth’s extremes and the prayer that does more than comfort” reminds us that we can feel a heartfelt recognition of God’s power in times when natural disasters threaten. We have ample Biblical evidence of God’s power to still storms, quell disasters, and provide for people’s safety and well-being — and in our prayers we can remember that God’s creation is in balance, with neither too little nor too much of any element. It’s right to expect to see this kind of prayer reflected in normal weather, as well as in safety and protection for all.
In “The signs of the times,” the author shares an experience in which her daughters were saved from a dangerous mudslide in the mountains of Colorado. “What are termed ‘natural’ disasters,” she writes, “are not the anger of the Lord, punishment from Him, or material elements in conflict.” As we pray to quell fear, anger, greed, and violence in the general atmosphere of human thought, we’ll see a more peaceful atmosphere and fewer disasters.
Finally, you’ll want to read “Safe in floodwaters,” a powerful account of how prayer saved a woman after she and a friend were swept away by the current from a swollen river. The author’s receptivity to God’s direction kept her and her friend — and those nearby — safe until they could be rescued, and revealed to her that God “take[s] each one of his children all the way to safety, not just partway.”