Well, we have made it through another hurricane. It is kind of strange how life stops for us here in Florida and we hunker down and wait for whatever nature throws our way.
We all have our ways of preparing and tending to what we see as important. In our family we always want lots of snacks. Gary and I go through our list of preparations. We have gotten good at remembering most things like filling the tub or making sure all the laundry is done. But what about after the hurricane?
Once again, we need to shift back to normal like. Unless of course you live in Fort Myers. I have watched the news way too much seeing the devastation down there. It is overwhelming. I wonder what the people of Fort Myers are thinking. Are they all going to move to another state or remain in Florida? Honestly, I don’t know what I would do. I know I would be talking to God a lot. I might be asking for His help and comfort, or I might be angry at Him for not saving my house or the life of my neighbor.
I don’t think it is bad to be honest with God. He understands our fears and our disillusionment. He can handle our questions and our disappointment. We can not push Him away with our truth. Romans 8 reminds us, “Who will separate us from Christ’s love? Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" We can add flood waters and natural disasters to that list. God's love is steadfast. Romans 8 goes on to say, “But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.”
That is a deep assurance that God has not forgotten the people of Fort Myers. He is down there with them as they attempt to salvage what they can of their homes. He is with them as they make their decisions about the future. He will walk with them through the coming months and even years until they climb out of this disaster. This is what God does and He is faithful.