Prayer for Tsunami Survivors

From a reader:
I have a question. How do you explain the presence of God in this terrible event in India. I know that God is with the survivors and the people that perished did not really perish, they are going on. I just don't understand how God created a perfect world and exists everywhere for the protection of His children and now 100,000 of His children are gone.

Dear Reader:
First of all, what is most needed at the moment is prayer for the survivors. Your prayer, my prayer is tangibly felt and helps them feel hope in the midst of disaster, courage when they feel discouraged, strength when they need it most. When you think of this, pray without ceasing that they feel God's power with them, God's safety, wisdom and strength. As a Christian in the middle of an emergency case, you can't afford to indulge in “why” questions. You've got to jump right in with all your confidence, conviction and radical commitment to support the survivors. Take one thought, one spiritual quality that speaks to you and if nothing else use petitionary prayer to ask God that every individual feel that quality. We are holding up their hands like Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands in the midst of the battle in Ex. 17:12.

You've got to come at this as a practitioner, not as a patient.