When Your Whole World Changes

Where is God in the midst of disaster?

When Your Whole World Changes (WYWWC) is a series of 30 devotions written for people in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster or violent conflict. Based on principles from Scripture, this book brings a biblical perspective to the experience of suffering. It was developed in partnership with the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College to bring comfort and help build spiritual resilience. The topics systematically take participants through the three phases of spiritual first aid:

Honest Expression of Emotion

Growth in God’s Peace

Building Sustaining Hope for Tomorrow

Comfort, Stability, and Hope from God’s Word

Disasters impact every aspect of our lives. They interrupt our daily routines and leave us feeling uncertain about the future. We struggle to find our way through the confusion, fear, and painful losses that come with the crisis. Even governments, healthcare systems, and essential service providers can be crippled.

Globally over a billion people are living in conflict zones.

God is Faithful in Every Circumstance

The Scriptures give voice to our feelings, comfort us, and strengthen us for the future. The Bible helps us see beyond our struggles to the eternal hope that God brings. WYWWC brings a biblical perspective to the experience of suffering with passages from both the Old and New Testaments.

A sample of the themes and key verses is shown below.

Day One - Help Me

I’m stunned! I had heard that surviving a disaster could be bad, but I never imagined it would be like this for me, my family, and my community .

Psalm 31:9

“Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.”

Day Three - No More!

I’ve had it! I can’t concentrate on anything. It’s so hard to remember what people are trying to tell me. I’m utterly exhausted, but I can’t sleep. I feel so nauseous I can’t eat.

Psalm 55:16-17

“As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”

Day Fourteen - Dare to Hope!

It sometimes feels hopeless and impossible to go on. The things I used to look forward to are gone, and I don’t know what to hope for in the future.

Psalm 62:5–6

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”

Day Eighteen - Not the Same Person

I didn’t expect things to be so different. It’s a challenge to put my life back together in the “new normal” without the resources and opportunities we used to have.

Psalm 62:5–7

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.”

Testimonials From Participants

“Through the devotion, I have been encouraged to trust the Lord with my burdens.”

“This devotion was so timely; it has really touched my soul. I am so blessed.”

“I have read each day. Thank you so much. The 30-day devotional was such a great inspiration.”

“After going through the devotion, I am not the same person anymore.”

Available Languages

When Your Whole World Changes is available in multiple languages:

English – UK

English – US

Amharic

Arabic – Classic

Arabic – Syrian

Asante Twi

Chichewa

Chinese Simplified

Chinese Traditional

Farsi

French

Hausa

Indonesian

Italian

Japanese

Kiswahili

Ndebele

Portuguese

Russian

Shona

Spanish

Tagalog

Thai

Turkish

Ukrainian

ACT Programs

When Your Whole World Changes is part of a suite of Adversity, Crisis and Trauma resources published by Biblica.

Not a day goes past without news of war, famine, earthquakes, flooding, or other disasters. Globally over a billion people are living in conflict zones with more than 120 million people forcibly displaced by persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations.

Biblica wants everyone affected by trauma to know that God cares for them, loves them, and is present with them in their suffering. Through our Adversity, Crisis, and Trauma resources, we aim to support the emotional and spiritual needs of survivors. Reaching
survivors with the Gospel of Christ is not as simple as sharing the message of salvation. Often the wounds of fresh and past hurts block a person’s ability to hear truth and receive love and kindness. Adversity, Crisis, and Trauma healing resources can meet survivors
in their place of loss and pain, offering to journey with them toward hope and wholeness.

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