Did YOU feel THAT?

I've never felt it before so it came as quite a shock, a shock that was felt all over our country today. Some time after 12 noon today I was sitting at my desk when the whole building began to shake. There was a brief lull and then it hit again. Around the office we were all asking, what on earth was that? I'd heard of earth tremors and but realized this was substantially stronger.

We evacuated our offices as there was word that it might hit again but a short while later we returned indoors. Social media and news sights went wild. So many questions rushed through my mind. I wondered what it felt like else where. Could you feel it in cars? Was this a mine disaster? Initially it felt like an explosion and I wondered if our generator had exploded. Was our building going to collapse? What caused this? Where was the epicentre?

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale had hit about 6 kilometers outside Orkney in the Free State and the shock waves were felt throughout the country and even in some neighbouring states. Sadly one poor soul was crushed by a falling wall, but buy the close of business that was the only recorded fatality but there were injuries to miners.

I wondered about how people who live on earthquake zones must feel when these events happen frequently as they do in Japan and the South Pacific. There was a strong undercurrent of fear so I can hardly imagine what terror must strike when it happens on a large scale and buildings and roads are destroyed. Through it all though somehow I could not help but to marvel at the majestic power of God and the power of His creation.

Today our earth shook, but there are so many times when our spiritual lives are shaken by disasters that hit us to the core of our soul. An immediate family member dies. Someone is diagnosed with Cancer. A husband or wife has been unfaithful. We loose our job. These disasters strike just as fiercely as an earthquake and the aftermath is equally as devastating.

When our earth shakes our only salvation lies in the arms of God. God alone is our source of comfort in times of fear and shelter when the storms ravage our soul. When we draw close to God in troubled times we can find peace that surpasses understanding.

His word says it best:

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Isa 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.