Recently, two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela less than a minute apart, leaving many dead, injured, missing, and trapped beneath collapsed buildings. At the time of this writing, Japan just experienced another earthquake, registering at magnitude 6.8. As is typical of many earthquakes and disasters, there are miraculous stories of survival. One such story is that of Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, a security guard whom rescuers saved after he had been trapped for eight days in the rubble. Truly an amazing story, and these types of events usually bring out the humanity in people.
What moments like these teach us is just how fragile life really is. So many people were just living their lives, maybe going to work to provide for their family, when suddenly disaster struck and in an instant they lost their lives. I always think about families where a husband, wife, son, or daughter left home that day, fully expecting to return, but never did. That is why we must always be thankful for the days of life we have on this earth, while remembering that we live on the doorstep of eternity.
As with everything in life, there are lessons of faith we can learn from these situations, and I want to share a few of them with you.
When the Ground Shakes, What Are We Really Trusting?
It is not uncommon for people to put trust in things they see. People with wealth and resources may put their trust there. Some people put their trust in their education and wisdom. Others believe it is their top-notch security system that keeps them safe at night. While these things can be beneficial and even provide a level of comfort, as followers of Christ, they are not what we hope in. Ultimately, God is our refuge. Here is how the Psalmist wrote it:
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. – Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge when everything is going well and when everything is falling apart. He is our refuge when your bank account is full and even when it is empty. The difference is often that we don’t understand what it means for God to be our refuge until disaster happens. I don’t want disaster or tragedy for anyone, but it is in these moments where the truth of God’s promises and the reality of who he is during these trials give us comfort and hope. When your hope is in him, then regardless of what is shaking around you, you can be confident because he will keep you and won’t let you go.
Why Tragedy Should Move Christians Toward Compassion
So many times during Jesus’ ministry on earth, he encountered people who had experienced tragedy or hardship. Whether it was sickness, disease, demonic possession, or even death, these moments often stirred his compassion. This led him to do something about it. If we are going to respond like Christ, then tragic moments in the lives of others should stir up compassion in us as well.
In Luke 10, we find the story of the Good Samaritan. A quick summary of the story is that robbers beat, robbed, and left a Jewish man for dead on the side of the road. The priest and the Levite (both Jews) walked by the man and left him there. The Samaritan (not a Jew) stopped to help him.
How Disasters Can Break Down the Lines That Divide Us
While there are many implications that you can derive from this story, there is one I particularly want to focus on. The Samaritan had compassion on the Jew. This might seem insignificant until you recognize that Samaritans and Jews hated each other. Yet despite their differences, this Samaritan saw a man in distress, and he put those differences aside to help a fellow human. Tragedy often reminds us that the things we use as dividing lines are not that important when compared to matters of life and death. I wonder if we thought about life more from this perspective, if that would change the way we engage with each other.
We should always see moments of tragedy as opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus. You may not have the ability to respond to every tragedy, especially since they are numerous and seem to be increasing. However, tragedies don’t happen just around the world; they also happen right in your backyard. If you are looking to show compassion, this might be the best place to start.
Why Earthquakes Should Stir Mission, Not Fearful Speculation
Many times, when disasters like the earthquake in Venezuela happen, we are drawn to consider the end times and the return of Christ. I know for me, passages like this one ring in my mind.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. – Matthew 24:7
If we are not careful, then we can get caught up in end-times speculation and start looking at all the signs. There is nothing wrong with studying the end times, but make sure you don’t fall victim to what I call prophecy watching. Prophecy watchers spend a lot of time looking at all the indicators that point to the possibility of Jesus coming at any moment. The problem is that they never take the time to do what Jesus asked us to do.
Our mission is not to figure out when Jesus is coming back. Our mission is to be ambassadors for Jesus, making his appeal for salvation to the world and building disciples until he comes. When that becomes our focus, we will never lose the compassionate heart of Jesus, which is always reaching out to those who don’t know him.
How God’s Comfort Becomes Our Calling to Others
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. – 1 Corinthians 1:3-4
God is the God of comfort. The expectation is that we would reflect that and comfort others. The best part of that is that we are simply reciprocating to others what we have received from God ourselves. In moments of tragedy, people do not always need explanations. What they may need is someone to pray with them, sit beside them, listen to them, cry with them, and remind them they are not alone. That could mean something as simple as a hug or a meal, or something more intense, like providing temporary shelter. Whatever you can do, the mindset to do it with is to simply remember your own tragic moments or to put yourself in their shoes as best you can.
How Christians Can Help Steady Lives That Have Been Shaken
This all begins and ends with compassion and the love of Christ. We may not stop the ground from shaking, but we can help steady those whose lives have been shaken. We do that by showing them the compassion and comfort of Christ. It may not straighten out their lives in an instant, as many tragedies take years to recover from. However, knowing someone is walking with them through it can be just the encouragement they need to keep going. Your part may be only to help them take the next step, but it could be the most important step of all in their path to overcoming their tragedy. In a world that can be shaken at any moment without warning, may people find in us a steady reflection of the compassion, hope, and love of Jesus. That, my friends, is the light that can shine through all of us.
Frequently Asked Questions about Earthquakes, Faith, and Christian Compassion
- What can Christians learn from earthquakes and natural disasters?
Earthquakes remind Christians that life is fragile, our security is ultimately in God, and suffering people need compassion, prayer, and practical help. - What does Psalm 46 teach during disaster?
Psalm 46 teaches that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, even when the earth gives way. - How should Christians respond to people affected by earthquakes?
Christians should respond with compassion, prayer, generosity, practical support, and a willingness to walk with people whose lives have been shaken. - Should earthquakes make Christians focus on end-times speculation?
Earthquakes can remind us that Christ will return, but believers should avoid fearful speculation and remain focused on compassion, mission, and faithful discipleship. - How can believers comfort others after tragedy?
Believers can comfort others by praying, listening, sitting with them, providing meals or shelter, and sharing the comfort they have received from God.
For Further Reading
Photo Credit: Getty/yasharu
He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
Originally published August 17, 2026.
