Escaping The Flood, Or Not
the local Hess station
Hurricane Irene came to our NJ town. And afterwards so did the President and Governor. The aftermath of flooding left our neighborhoods destroyed, people displaced, businesses ruined. But the devastation was selective. While some areas were devastated, others were spared.
Among the many affected were two churches. In both cases, they had never experienced flooding, and so expected none this time. In both cases, they were wrong.
The Butler Community Church was undergoing a facelift. The downstairs, used for concerts and coffeehouses, was ready to have the floor painted. During the week, the congregation raised furniture and valuable musical equipment two feet off the floor to prepare it for washing before painting. Along came Irene and the deluge of water that covered the floor. The next day, the fire department pumped all the water out leaving it sparkling clean, ready for painting!
Down the road, Beth Israel Church had nearly finished their massive 4 year renovation project turning an abandoned furniture store into a breathtaking sanctuary and ministry center. It was almost ready for dedication. The brand new carpet had just been laid when Irene came to town leaving the building with 4 feet of smelly, murky, oily water. Everything from floor to ceiling was in ruins. After the initial shock, the congregation’s first response was to see how they might serve their neighbors, providing meals to those who lost everything.
Did God show favor to one over the other?
Did God answer the prayers of one and not the other?
Or did He choose each for different purposes –
One to proclaim His deliverance.
One to reveal His grace.
We might not have an abundance of water to contend with, but what about other calamities, maybe a frightful diagnosis? Some who pray are miraculously delivered to share amazing testimonies about the power of the Almighty.
Yet there are others who pray with as much fervor and faith, yet still experience the tribulations of all manner of physical disease, mental illness or addiction.
Thirty years ago, a friend was diagnosed with MS. She was a dancer and couldn’t move a single muscle one morning. Miraculously, she has been symptom-free since then. Twenty years ago, another friend was diagnosed with MS. He prayed for healing too. Yet the ravages of his disease have affected his speech, motion, and emotions. Today he thanks God and credits Him with transformation in the best sense of the word. He’ll tell you he used to be “cocky,” a stellar athlete filled with an abundance of self-confidence. He now barely walks with a steel walker, but it is God who he leans on.
We can and should pray for our circumstances as our heavenly Father wants us to bring all our concerns to Him. But we must realize that these circumstances do not define us or God. They are tools in His hands used to refine us. He may allow the flood, the disease, the broken relationships, the financial woes. Or He may deliver us from them entirely. He is sovereign. We are not. But when we know the One who is – when we trust His character -when we converse with Him in prayer – when we experience His presence through the Spirit – and when we know that He CAN deliver us, but chooses not to – then we can experience His perfect peace despite our circumstances. And that is a powerful testimony that will speak loudly to the lives of others still struggling in their own circumstances.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Luke 22:42-43
May He strengthen you too, dear one.
Blessings,
Good morning Susan… your blog was a great way to start the morning off,,, it was words that I needed to hear…. may God continue to bless you as you write and minister to others!!!!!! have a wonderful day.. hugs Audrey
I like what you about that circumstance do not define God or us. Sometimes our circumstances are hard to swallow, but we can turn to Him for strength and peace.
Thank you for sharing you wisdom with us.
Good Morning, Susan. I always enjoy reading your blogs. you have such a great way of putting things into perspective. I do not know how people who do not know God get through the tough circumstances that come along. I know my strength and peace comes from God alone certainly not by anything I could do by myself.
You are such a blessing in my life. Thank you for being my friend! May God continue to bless you with your ministry.
What a great Word this morning Susan! Our circumstances may change but God never does. I am so thankful for that! Welcome to the LWG team! 🙂
Susan,
I have enjoyed your messages that has strengthened my faith so many times. I feel so blessed with encouragement when I read your blog and happy to know that your gift is being shared on other blogs. May the Lord continue to guide you with your ministry.
Great job Susan, and a timely word for many of us. In these difficult days all over the world we must continue to give God glory in all circumstances.
Blessings to you and thank you for sharing this.
Jan
Dear Susan,
Wonderful devotional article! Inspiring! Bless you…Maude
This blog is now added to my “favorites.” I always enjoy your insights and the words the Spirit gives you seem to perfectly fit the events in my life. May God richly bless this new endeavor!
Susan, what a Blessing!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Beth Israel is worshipping at the Grand Chalet and the room we are renting is becoming too small. Many new visitors!! Our God is an Awesome God
Susan, you have captured so many emotions in this message. It is packed with reality — especially the reality that God is our refuge and strength, and that we can always trust in his sovereign will, even when we don’t understand. Thank you for this post. May God continue to gift you with many more messages to share with us!
Thank you Susan for putting things so eloquently and for your perspective. I love how the Lord uses you to touch our hearts and help us see and understand.This scripture really spoke to me a few months ago when someone told me to bring my son Gabriel to their church and he would be healed from his spina-bifida. I doubted myself”are my prayers not good enough?” Of course I know that God hears me, He gave me this scripture Luke 22:42-43 and I saw that in that moment when Jesus prayed for the cup to be removed he also knew His work was not finished.He was strengthend, and continued to pray more fervently.If the answer isn’t what you want don’t stop praying, God has a bigger plan, He will use you for His Glory!Alleluiah!
Great post, Susan! Love the truth here – God is sovereign. Some will be able to proclaim His deliverance, some will reveal His grace – wonderfully put. It’s only when we remember that it’s all about Him and not about us, that we can come to grips with these difficult situations that challenge us. Thanks for sharing! God bless!
Congrats Susan! Have a wonderful day!
Love, Dawn
Ladies,
I’m so blessed by your comments. I’m so thankful that God is sovereign and I’m not. He makes such better decisions than I do ;D
We were spared most of the horrors of the flooding, but my friends were not. When Joe and his neighbor were talking about their piles of ruined household stuff out by the curb, the neighbor said, “Doesn’t it really hurt to see your life, sitting ruined out by the curb?” To which Joe responded with a smile, “That’s not my life, my friend – it’s not my treasure – my treasure is in Christ!!”.
I honestly believe that it is in the crucible that the greater testimonies of God’s faithfulness can be seen. Of course, I’m happy that my “stuff” is in tact, but maybe I shouldn’t be???
Blessings to you all,
Susan
I’m learning that I can’t figure everything out as to why some are healed and rescued and some are not. I do know that God is good, and none of these horrible events are His fault. We live in a yuckky world; thank God for Jesus, our Prince of Peace.
Thanks for your wisdom and grace,
Jen
You handled a tough topic with grace and wisdom. My heart goes out to those so terribly affected and afflicted. How wonderful that the light of Christ shines ever brighter in such dark and fearful events.
Great post Susan. Welcome to the LWG team.
Thank you Susan for your insight and wisdom on how God can be and will be glorified in all circumstances. Praising God for how He supplied Butler’s need and in awe at His Grace that allowed Beth Israel to show God’s love in the midst of their own great need.
May you be blessed as you continue to bless others with the gift that God has given you!
Very powerful post!
Wonderful words of encouragement, Susan! Thankful he spared you and your family.
Blessings ~ Danie
“we must realize that these circumstances do not define us or God” How true this is, thanks for sharing and the encouragement.
Bethany
Susan, What a powerful Word this was…for those afflicted, my first thought is about how we’re taught to praise Him, not for all things, but in all things…and that is not always an easy thing to do! Paula White is the one who taught me that “if it’s not God sent, it’s God used”, and I truly believe that. Thank you for your wisdom on this difficult subject…..
The why’s and wherefore’s of tragedy often plague our thinking. Yet, when we trust the Lord, He moves on our behalf to turn what the enemy meant for evil around for our good.
Years ago, we sang a hymn that said, “We’ll talk it over in the by and by. We’ll talk it over, my Lord and I. I’ll ask the reasons. He’ll tell me why. When we talk it over in the by and by.”
Blessings,
Susan