Upon reflection - The Tsunami

Tsunami Tidal Wave – My own personal reflection

As I reflect and ponder all that has happened so suddenly four days ago, I can’t help but feel the burden in my heart, but it was not until Wednesday night that the impact of the event hit me real hard.

I could have been too involved with my own personal things to ponder, but the prayer meeting on Wednesday night shook me. I heard the Lord crying. I heard His sobs and it broke my heart.

We see lives dead as merely another tragedy but He sees them as His very own creation that He died for perishing without knowing Him. I was reminded of His lament over Jerusalem in Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

A Father’s heart makes the difference and that is what we need.

I have tried to put myself in the place of those who lost their loved ones – but I know I can never feel as how Abba Father feels. Only He can identify fully with those who have lost their loved ones, for He gave us His only Son.

My brother loves the sea. He will take the opportunity to go to the beach whenever he can. He was in Phuket, and many islands and he came back from Pulau Langkawi just recently…needless to say my heart wells up in gratitude for sparing him but what if?.....

Many have lost a few members of their families. Their sorrow depicted on their faces and the lost of their homes and everything they have lived for, all gone in just a moment. Many are still in dire need. The relief assistance has not reached them. Many villages in India and Indonesia have no communication lines.

I feel through this tragedy, I have been more aware of nations that need our prayers. We need to broaden our vision from individuals who are always wanting more for themselves and not having enough, to see nations in dire need. The Lord’s heart is for the nations. Within a moment, 11 nations were affected. The number of deaths in Aceh alone is more than a hundred thousand.

What is the Lord saying to us as Christians? Is this the wake up call for us to rise up in prayer?

Should we not cry out to the Lord to bring about a tidal wave of His Spirit that brings life? There is still hope. Surely it is time for Asia to rise up and cry out for a move of His Spirit that will sweep across nations bringing many to Him. If this has happened so suddenly surely we can believe for God to bring about His purposes SUDDENLY if his people are ready for the harvest.

Am I ready for the “Suddenlys” of God? Am I going to be caught unaware?

I remember crying out for Malaysia the night before the Tsunami happened, but because I had to go out, I did not press through in prayer.

Many of us are caught up in our own little worlds unaware of the things that are going to happen because we have been too busy to listen.

A poem I have written…

What fills my heart

Different emotions fill our hearts
As we see people die in various nations.
So suddenly, so quickly in tens of thousands.
Loved ones gone, all they had worked for all disappear
Beneath the waters as the tides flow over.

I wonder what fills our hearts have we been so hardened?
Can we just for once forget about ourselves and see the needs
Those who are in pain, the downtrodden, the lost,
That life can never be the same again?

Let us take time to ponder the condition of our hearts
Let us feel for those out there for in their time of need
Our support if not in kind but in prayer
Will turn the tide around in their moment of despair.


Won’t you spend some time today to join me in prayer for those out there who need Jesus. Give up some leisure time, fast a meal or two..and look to Jesus for His mercy upon these ones that need Him the most, for He is our only hope.

God bless you,

Josephine Lu

Date: 30th December 2004