Nature is not the whole story. The universe was designed and brought forth by the command of one who spoke it into existence and who took special interest in human beings--that part of creation that bore the divine image. Their purpose was to flourish and develop this good world in honor of its Author. But something went tragically wrong. We humans took another road, and the entire creation is still reeling from this moral catastrophe. G. K. Chesterton quipped that original sin is a doctrine that is empirically verifiable. "Man's inhumanity to man"--and even nature's inhumanity to man--is everywhere evident, as fiery towers collapse and monstrous waves destroy.

But despite it all, we are told, all was not lost. The world was not left alone. God disclosed wisdom through his prophets, who claimed that an unparalleled prophet, priest, and king would come. He would experience the worst the world had to offer, but turn tragedy into victory and grant hope and pardon to the penitent.  In light of this vision, thousands work tirelessly and pray earnestly to relieve those suffering from nature's latest fury.

On this reading of reality, history is played out on God's watch. Every detail is attended to in God's unlimited wisdom and matchless power. The deadly tsunami neither surprised nor outsmarted the Ancient of Days. It was no random, impersonal upsurge devoid of meaning. If it were, hope would be vanquished for both the living and the dead. But we, with clouded vision and bounded intellects, witness but a microscopic part of the cosmic drama. The Apostle Paul wrote that the whole cosmos groans together in travail, awaiting its final redemption. We all groan with it; but we may groan with hope and work hopefully for the world's future healing.

Douglas Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of On Jesus.