We look to all aspects of what happened and ask; How did it happen? Why did it happen? Why couldn’t we prevent it? What can we do? These questions reflect our sense of frustration, worry and uncertainty. We are longing for comfort but at the same time looking for answers to all our questions. Often, it takes a while to be comforted with the help and support of others. Not having answers to our questions increases our frustration and despair.

I suppose this was the reaction of those in Christchurch when the 22 February 2011 earthquake happened. The people of Tonga had a similar experience on 15 January 2022 when the undersea volcano at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupted and caused a tsunami, and a hail of dust and ash covering the whole of the island kingdom. Tonga has never experienced a natural calamity of this scale before and that is why people reacted differently. Tongans in Tonga and in the diaspora viewed this dramatic event from different perspectives. Some viewed it from a theological view point, which claims that God was in control of what happened. Others viewed it from a scientific perspective, which was based on the research of scientists claiming it was the movement of the tectonic plates causing the eruption of the volcano, which then triggered the tsunami.

Whatever opinion individuals have in their response to this natural disaster, I would like to ponder on John Wesley’s opinion on providence. In his sermon entitled “On Divine Providence,” he acknowledged God as Creator of all things and also knowing all things. He strongly emphasized the omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience of God but did not elaborate on the presence of evil in our world. Yet, he claims that it is the goodness and love of God that identify the divine providence in harsh situations like the tsunami that devastated the people of Tonga.

John Wesley writes, “He hath made us, not we ourselves and he cannot despise the work of his own hands. We are his children: And can a mother forget the children of her womb? Yes, she may forget; yet will not God forget us! On the contrary, he hath expressly declared, that as his “eyes are over all the earth,” so he “is loving to every man and his mercy is over all his works.” Consequently, he is concerned every moment for what befalls every creature upon earth;” John Wesley insists that it is God’s love and mercy that demonstrate the divine providence in desperate situations.

Providence is all about a loving and merciful God who cares for the wellbeing of all creatures and living species in the global household, even in the midst of calamity and hostility. The nature of that God was revealed in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. In the midst of his suffering and death, Jesus was still proclaiming a message of love and forgiveness. People of like-minds are invited to share their love and kindness with those who are anxious in any natural disaster, which is a true expression of divine providence.

Rev Dr Keith Rowe in his unpublished paper entitled, Pondering Providence remarks, “Providence becomes apparent when we allow life to be enriched by awareness of God within and beyond and allow grace to be embodied in relationships and actions that become vehicles of God’s providential care for others.” There are dramatic stories that people in Tonga shared in the social media, which reflect God’s providential love in crucial moments of their lives when the tidal waves rolled over the land. Surely, the people of Tonga and those who are facing similar tragedy are longing for providential care and love in their suffering. How can we participate in this providential love and care? Who would like to be part of this providential love and care?