What's Next

This is an except from a book titled “All In, Gambling on Life, Love & Faith in a World of Risk” by Michael DiMarco.

“Only miles away from our home in Middle Tennessee, a devastating tornado-spawning storm cut a swath of destruction, leveling homes, businesses, and churches at random. My wife was in that neighborhood just hours before, and we could see the black storm wall move across Summer County from our home in Wilson County on the opposite side of Old Hickory Lake. Sadly, some of those affected are asking, “Why?” not realizing that isn’t the operative question in life. Instead, they must face the question “What’s next? How can I go on and make a difference?” Thousands of people in our community aren’t asking why but are giving their time and resources to do something that is moral and isn’t selfish, something that says, “This is what I can do. This is how I can make a difference.” (All In, pages 191-192)

Tragedy can strike at anytime. It can come in the form of loosing your job, death of a family member, a sickness, a economic downturn effecting your retirement, or a storm that rips through a community destroying homes and lives.

In June of 2008, the Midwest was hit with sever weather resulting in massive floods. In my home town of Columbus, Indiana we were no different. A creek that had not flooded in a hundred years, rose above its banks destroying homes and damaging the local hospital, which had to be evacuated. I’m proud to say that my community like many others in the Midwest and my church like many others did not stand around long asking why. Instead they said, “What’s next?” The community and local churches began to work to repair homes and lives.

The same could be said after Katrina. It was people, churches, and businesses that truly began the rescue and repair of those communities destroyed by the hurricane. While the government wasted time asking why, It was the people of America and our churches that truly served and said, “What’s next?”

After the death of Christ, the disciples were first afraid, unsure, and asking why. But after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus told them, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19. And so, they went out and began the greatest spiritual awaking in the history of man.

When we face tragedy. When we are uncertain of God’s purpose in our lives. We should turn to God in prayer and ask, “What‘s next? What will you have me to do? How can I make a difference in Your Name?” When we focus on this we will grow closer to God and bring others to Him. For people will know God by our loving acts during adversity.