~PRAY for Japan~

I was pretty shocked to see an outpour of anti- prayer messages across the Web following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Messages such as "Do not pray for Japan, do something concrete for Japan", or even worse "Prayer is doing nothing and still think that you're helping...do not pray for Japan, do something to help Japan."

How can people underestimate the power of prayer? I'm not against donating food/money, or donating to the Red Cross so they could help Japan, but who on earth will provide enough for the Red Cross? Who can say with conviction that the Red Cross will not run out of funds someday soon? Who can gurantee that the food/money reaches Japan safetly to help these people out of their misery? Who can gurantee that the rescue missions are going to go perfectly well and help as many people as possible?

I personally believe that not a single human on earth, millionaire or not- can say with perfect assurance that nothing will happen to hinder the rescue mission in Japan. Nobody can insipire such assurance except GOD.

Therefore donate money and food, donate as much as you are willing to give, as much as you can afford to. There are people out there who lost everything, food, family, shelter...some people might not even have a reason to live anymore. Small children have just been orphaned, torn away from everything that ever mattered to them, every ounce of stability they every had. Threats of a nuclear catastrophe are only adding to the plight of these people. This is not the time to start debating over the financial impact, or debating about the pros and cons of nuclear weapons. This is the time to open your hearts to Japan and give as much as you can.

And more than that- give in prayer. Pray that nothing goes wrong in rescue missions for only God can assure perfection. Pray that the Japanese people are safe from an eventual nuclear threat.

There is something that many, including myself, often overlook. More than needing food and/or other material things, the majority of these victims are also in desperate need for some comfort, solace, warmth and a sense of rejuvination. They've gone through a terrible time, and unless you've actually been through it, I don't think we can wholly grasp what a traumatic experience this has been for them. Solace and comfort can't be brought through money, cant'be transferred through the Red Cross, can't be emailed or faxed or posted. It can only be felt in the heart. Therefore pray that these people find solace and comfort, whatever their situation might be, however bleak the world might seem to them right now. Pray that the victims can nourish a spirit of hope in these dire times. Pray for the other people in need all across the globe.

Pray for Japan.