This past week in Dallas, we experienced a tragedy. Thankfully, we grieve only buildings and not lost lives. This is the first tornado that I have ever lived through and it is by far the most terrifying and unpredictable natural disaster. As I drove through the carnage on my way to my second job I was at a loss for words. Wind spinning in a circle ripped hundred year old trees, fully intact, right out of the ground; roots and all.

Yet, there’s hope. I ended up in a neighborhood trying to weave my way through to get to work on time and came upon an entire block completely devastated. Every house owner was on the street picking up debris and there were neighbors walking around checking on people, making sure that they were okay and helping each other. What a beautiful sight in all the chaos around me.

I was then reminded of the verse from John 11 where Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live forever even though they die.” (v. 25)

Our God is in the business of beauty in chaos. He is in the business of resurrection. He is in the business of redemption.

Can you imagine how the disciples felt seeing their Lord, their master, their friend, hanging on a cross, dying? I’d imagine it was complete despair and chaos. They were afraid for their lives and couldn’t see a light in the dark. Then Jesus burst back in and gave them more hope than they knew what to do with! The men who were hiding in a locked room one day, were openly proclaim Jesus in the synagogue, the next!

That’s what our God is about: taking broken, disastrous, painful situations and making them into life-giving, hopeful fuel.

As we mourn the loss of these places that meant a lot to us, my prayer is that we remember our God is in the business of making things new. Today, tomorrow, even next week may be hard, but He stands with us and walks with us into the new normal, hand in hand. He gently reminds us that he has a plan in the middle of this disaster and he is the Resurrection!