A devastating flood swept through the Himalayan mountains along the Nepal/China border on August 26, 2026. It obliterated buildings, knocked out bridges, and swallowed villages whole. The death toll has already climbed to 950, and over 4,500 are officially missing.
Scientists believe the disaster began when a massive section of a mountainside, containing both bedrock and glacial ice, collapsed. The resulting ice-rock avalanche swept down the valley, gathering water, mud, boulders, and other debris and producing catastrophic flooding downstream. You’ve probably seen the terrifying video clips.
Are you praying for the people in Nepal? They need our prayers and support.
Three days later, heavy rain in the American Southwest caused flash flooding in the Grand Canyon, wiping out footpaths, campgrounds, and an important water-transportation pipe. Two people are dead, and at least one person is missing.
These aren’t the only natural disasters this year. Wildfires raged so hot in Spain and France that they created their own storms. Deadly floods ravaged China, Ghana, Kenya, and Morocco; earthquakes rocked Colombia, Japan, and the Philippines; and a snowstorm brought New York City to a standstill.
Then there is El Niño, a natural weather pattern marked by unusually warm water in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. This year’s event is especially powerful and is expected to intensify extreme weather in many regions and threaten marine ecosystems.
Feels a little overwhelming, doesn’t it?
Natural Disasters. Multiplied?
Are there more natural disasters now than there used to be? It appears so. The World Meteorological Organization reports five times as many disasters between 2000 and 2009 (3,536 disasters) as between 1970 and 1979 (711 disasters). That’s a big difference!
One reason we have more disasters on record is that we have gotten better at noticing and recording them. But some scientists do warn that rising global temperatures will make many weather-, climate-, and water-related hazards more frequent or severe in the coming years.
But honestly, the number of disasters each year isn’t the main point. What they point to is.
No Surprise Here
Natural disasters shouldn’t surprise us. We live on a planet that has endured the curse of sin for over 6,000 years. Crazy weather and catastrophic events are to be expected.
Romans 8:22 reminds us that “the whole creation groans.” Sin doesn’t just wreck your life and mine—it also causes the earth (and everything living on it) to suffer. Natural disasters sweep away homes and lives. Ecosystems don’t work right. Animals hunt each other. Our favorite pets get sick and die.
Jesus also tells us to expect “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7) before He returns to the earth.
These things are “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). Romans 8:22 calls them “birth pangs.” When a mother is about to have a child, she experiences waves of pain as her uterus contracts and prepares to push her newborn through the birth canal. Those contractions, or “birth pangs,” are a signal that her baby is about to be born.
In the same way, natural disasters are potent reminders that Jesus is coming soon.
Watch! Warn the World! And Love People!
What should we do when we see our world rocked by calamities? A story from the Nepal flood helps to answer the question:
Principal Rajendra Dawadi was at school when his accountant warned him that floodwaters were coming. Dawadi immediately sounded the alarm and began evacuating more than 900 students and 16 staff members, urging them on to higher ground. Within minutes, the flood destroyed the school.
Principal Dawadi’s quick action saved at least 900 students.
Jesus asks us to be like Principal Dawadi. In the same sermon where He tells us to expect natural disasters, He invites us to pay attention. Notice the signs that point to Jesus’ soon return. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
He also asks us to do more than simply watch out for our own safety. Like Principal Dawadi, we have a responsibility to those around us. We need to warn people that time is running out. Jesus is coming soon, and they need to choose Him now—before the opportunity is forever gone.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus is talking to you and me!
How do we do that? Every way we can. Preaching, teaching, and evangelism? Absolutely. But don’t stop there. Jesus’ true followers will also care for the practical needs of every person they serve. They feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit prisoners, and care for the homeless (Matthew 25:34–40).
In other words, we let Jesus love the world through us.
Today’s Challenge:
Pray for the people of Nepal. They need our prayers. If you can help financially, do that too. But don’t stop there; ask Jesus to give you an opportunity today to share your faith in Jesus with someone. Tell them about what Jesus has done for you, about His amazing love for all of us, and that He is coming soon. And look for practical ways to help them experience God’s love.
Learn the Seven Signs of Jesus’ Return.