Devotional: Mother’s Day, Leis, and The Ascension

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

This week, as floods tore through Central Texas, claiming dozens of lives and leaving entire

communities in anguish, we are left gasping for words. The water recedes, but the grief rushes

in. Families are still searching for loved ones. Children are counted among the dead. Homes

have vanished beneath the current. And all across this devastated landscape, we’re left

asking: Where was God? In the face of such staggering loss, we resist the temptation to offer easy answers. I’m reminded of the words of theologian David Bentley Hart in his work The Doors of the Sea. He claims, “There is no more Christian answer to the question of innocent suffering than that of

the cross.” Hart challenges us to reject the idea that suffering is secretly good, or that tragedies

are part of some hidden, divine arithmetic. Instead, he urges us to look at Christ, God Himself,

hanging in agony, sharing fully in our sorrow and pain. The Gospel does not tell us that all

things are good; it tells us that God will not let evil and death have the last word.

To say “God is in control” cannot mean that God willed this devastation. Rather, I believe it

means God is present even in the chaos. God is with the mother who weeps over her child. God

is with the exhausted rescuer pulling survivors from rooftops. God is with the communities that

now hold tightly to one another in the wreckage. And God is the One who, in the end, will wipe

away every tear; not by explaining away the suffering, but by healing it completely.

What’s more, I’m reminded of the sign, etched in stone on the side of St. Ann’s Episcopal

Church in East Nashville that reads: “God wasn’t in the tornado, but in our response.” What do

we do in times like these? We do what we can: give generously, mobilize, hope. And above all…



We pray: Lord, be near to Central Texas. Shelter the grieving in Your mercy. Be a fortress for the broken, a

light in the dark. We do not understand the depth of this sorrow, but we trust that Your love is

deeper still. May those who suffer not feel forgotten, but carried. May our lament rise to You

like the morning sun—and may Your comfort fall upon all who hurt and mourn. In the name of

Christ Amen. Curious about ways to support the disaster recovery efforts:

Give to the FUMCTC: Through Tithely, check, or cash, be sure gifts are made out to “Rio Texas

Conference” and designated to “Advance #2050 — Guadalupe River Flood”

We will send one check to the Rio Conference at the end of July.

Individual Gifts: You may make contributions directly to the conference office at: Rio Texas

Conference, 16400 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78248

Your generosity will support immediate needs in the affected areas. The Rio Texas Conference

is also working with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to secure an initial grant

to aid the response. For more information regarding mobilization efforts visit the Rio Texas

Conference Disaster Response website (link below).

In Christ’s Name,

Pastor Taylor