Are We Experiencing "Groaning Pains"?

As I watch the news I can not help but to once again wonder, "Are we experiencing 'groaning pains'?" In Romans 8:22 it says, "For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." It sure looks like all creation is "groaning". I did a little checking and in 2012, 125 people died due to Hurricane Sandy, the hotter and dryer summer than normal brought on drought in the USA and in Africa. Around the world there were earthquakes in Italy, the Philippines, China, Iran and Afghanistan, floods in the USA, China, Russia, England, Ireland, Africa, Nepal and other places as well and there were tornadoes - not just in the USA, but in Canada, Europe, Australia, Poland, Japan, Indonesia, India and Turkey. There were also typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes around the world; all which claimed lives and left people homeless.

So how do we look at these disasters? My heart breaks for the people who were impacted by these natural disasters. So many people died and so many more had their lives literally torn apart. We need to pray for them. We need to give as we are able to ministries such as WorldHelp and Samaritan's Purse so they can go and offer tangible help and more importantly, share Jesus with the ones who survive.

I believe it is very possible these natural disasters are "groaning pains", so if they are - and even if they are not - we need to share Jesus with all who we are able - our children's and family ministries must be effective. Our time may be short - we need to redeem the days while we have time to do so.