So, rather than concluding that disaster means God hates us, we should see those trying times as opportunities to enjoy inner peace, strength, and proper thinking. “For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

If we want to look at evidence of God’s love for us, we look to Calvary’s Cross rather than our circumstances. In Christ, God has given us, as believers, internal provisions to strengthen us. Tragedies do not have to destroy us. God will not change our circumstances, but He will change us inside (in our soul’s mindset) as we endure those circumstances. This is the basis of grace prayer according to “the dispensation of the grace of God,” reinforcing in our minds with what is the truth for today.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ¹⁸While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:16-18)

Despite our outward circumstances, whether good or bad, our “inward (soul) man” is being “renewed day by day” (2Cor. 4:16) The body man is weakening, aging, and dying, but our inward soul-man grows stronger day by day. As sound Bible doctrine renews our mind causing us to think about our problems the way God does.

Ephesians 3:16 tells us how “the Spirit of God” works: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner (innermost) man (in our spirit); ....” The “Spirit of God” works from the inside out into the soul-man, then leading our body. He takes sound Bible doctrine that we study and believe, and works IN us.

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The internal work of the Holy Spirit will produce outward behavior. Grace moves from internal to external.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Ephesians 4:28)

Rather than God the Holy Spirit miraculously raining money down from Heaven so those less fortunate can have their necessities met, He will work in Christian people who have the resources (time, money/goods, energy) to meet those needs. When you learn of a certain person in need, and you pray about that person long enough, you will find yourself meeting that need. You pray about a needy person long enough, and you will find yourself giving to help. You pray for a sick person long enough, and you will find yourself visiting that individual. You pray for a lost person long enough, and you will find yourself sharing the Gospel with that soul. Prayer is designed to activate God’s Word in the believer’s soul. Once the will is moved by sound doctrine, then our doing will move accordingly!

Concerning people enduring tragedies, there are really two classes of individuals for whom to pray. There are lost people (non-Christians) and there are saved people (real Christians). What should we pray for them? Again, what is God’s will during this current dispensation of grace? Go back to 1 Tim. 2:3-4 as seen earlier.

First, God wants all lost people to be “saved” by grace, trusting in His Son Jesus Christ and His saving crosswork as sufficient payment for their sins. This is “the gospel of the Grace of God.” (Act 20:24). Lost people can replace material possessions, but they cannot replace their soul.

“… what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

1. More than anything, during or after tragedy, we need to pray that these lost people be saved from their sins now, that they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now. When we pray this, and one of two things will happen. Either we will eventually go out and share the Gospel with them, or God’s Word will work in other Christians and they will share the Gospel with them... then the free-will choice is there’s to receive Christ as Savior.
2. God wants all Christians to know the truths of His Word for today, as to how grace works in our lives as believers. This is the Message of the Grace of God.

These two parts of God’s will involve grace; a) justification by grace through faith, and b) sanctification by grace through faith!

What about praying for Christians enduring tragedy. Satan will use their misfortunes to distract them from God’s unconditional love in Christ. In Rom. 8, the Holy Spirit speaks of a “who” that is exploiting our difficult circumstances, trying to cause us to believe those problems mean God doesn’t love us.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom. 8:35).

The “who” here is Satan who uses various life problems to divert our attention from God’s “word of truth.” We need to pray for our Christian brethren enduring calamity, for them to remember the love God has commended to them at Calvary. Their sins, they are already justified (paid for) “in Christ,” what they need to be saved from ‘erroneous thinking.’ The Spirit needs to enlighten and strengthen them with God’s grace, mercy, peace, and joy. With those truths in mind and heart, they can endure to get through anything!

Paul wrote here of his thorn in the flesh that the Lord would not take away.

“lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me (Paul) a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I (Paul) should be exalted above measure. ⁸For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. ⁹And he (The Lord) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2Cor. 12:7-10).

By Arthur J. Licursi, with portions adapted Shawn Brasseaux