The Anniversary of a Storm
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
It has been three years since Hurricane Charley threatened to hit the Tampa Bay area. I remember so well the preparations for the storm and the fear that settled in me as the family was getting ready to for the wrath of Charley.
I remember Mark coming home from work early that Thursday. He and my friend Erin headed to Home Depot to buy plywood for all our windows. I loaded the kids up and fought the chaos at Publix stocking up on water and non-perishable foods. We worked late into the night Thursday finalizing preparations. Friday morning early we awoke to the sound of saws and power drills as the neighbors began to board their homes up. Mark was out there with them; measuring, sawing, drilling. The men from our small group showed up shortly after 10am to help Mark finish boarding our windows. I watched the weather all morning as Charley went from a Category 2 storm to a Category 4 and all indications were pointing to the Tampa Bay Area, which had not had a direct hit from a hurricane in over 80 years. Our luck had run out.
My friend Erin and I were co-leading Beth Moore’s Believing God study during this time. In fact, we had Bible Study Thursday morning before all chaos ensued. I found myself struggling with how to pray about this storm. Obviously, I was afraid and I did not want the storm to hit. I did not want our home to be damaged. I did not want our city that we loved to be destroyed by what was quickly becoming a monster storm. Yet, we live in a fallen world where hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, typhoons, earthquakes, etc are a part of the everyday. Our world is imperfect so we can expect imperfect things to happen. The storm was going to go somewhere. If it didn’t hit Tampa, it would hit somewhere else. How could I pray to be spared when someone else would take that wrath? It just didn’t seem fair.
So, I prayed for safety, protection, that lives would not be lost, that those refusing to evacuate would heed the officials warnings and get out. I prayed for God’s sovereignty. Believing all things work for His good, if it could be in His will, the storm would dissipate and go away without effecting anyone. If in His plan the storm was to hit, that His protection would cover us and comfort us.
It so happens that Hurricane Charley took a last minute sharp right hand turn and hit south of our area. In the end, we barely got a drop of rain from the small but very powerful monster of a storm. Hurricane Charley wrecked havoc on the areas it hit, destroying homes and turning lives upside down. It didn’t matter that the vast majority of opinion was relief that it didn’t hit Tampa because the destruction would have affected more lives. However, those who lost their homes to Hurricane Charley still had pain and suffering and loss. Just because it wasn’t in Tampa didn’t mean the results from the storm were diminished.
I sat down Friday evening to do my God Stop in the Believing God study while watching the Opening Ceremonies to the Summer Olympics. Obviously, I was thankful that we were spared. I wrote to God that I didn’t understand why He spared Tampa, but was thankful – nonetheless. I prayed for those hurt by the storm as it continued its path of destruction across our state. I prayed for God to use the situation for His glory.
In time, I saw the answers to those prayers as everyone came together to help those in need. God used us and our church to minister to those who lost everything. Our church was able to send volunteers to help rebuild. We were able to donate goods as well as finances. My husband was able to spend a few days in the hardest hit areas manning his (then) company’s telecommunications trailer to help those who have no phone make calls and use the Internet. When the need arose, we all banded together. I was able to see a similar response to disasters as Hurricane Frances, Jean and Ivan ripped apart our state following Hurricane Charley that same year. And only a year later, witnessed it again as Hurricane Katrina destroyed the gulf coast and New Orleans.
I admit, I don’t always understand why God allows somethings to happen. I look forward to the day when we see the big picture and can say, “Ahh, now I get it!” When we face the storms of life, I believe that God will use them in some way to further advance His kingdom. We might not understand it but if we believe that God is in control we can be sure to know that His plan is perfect. Lamentations 3:22-23 says:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are sovereign and your plan is perfect. Lord, I submit to your will and desire to walk in the path you lay before me. Open my eyes to see the road you’ve paved ahead for me so I can live my life in Your will. In Christ’s name, Amen.
it all comes down to trusting Him, doesn’t it? I enjoyed this post. Two of my favorite verses and a wonderful prayer. God bless.
Very interesting. I can hardly wait to see the big picture too. Have a great day as you trust in Him.
Everything is in his control!
Learning to trust in the Lord is a lifetime training course. We are always in His care. Thanks for the message.
They have been playing a song on our local radio station “There is a Reason”….I do wonder “Why” sometimes…why some people are inflicted like Job and others are spared. We just have to trust Him that H will turn EVERYTHING into something good.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us.
Blessings to you and yours.
“We might not understand it but if we believe that God is in control we can be sure to know that His plan is perfect.”
You are absolutely correct, thank you for this post. I can relate as we’ve experienced some terrible hurricanes here in recent years also but as you said, God is in control.
I too lived in S.FL. when Charley loomed heavy on the coast! It was that hurricane season that lead to some serious prayer & then moving back to my home state! I too was studying Believing God at that time.
I too am counting the days when I can truly say “Ah! Now I get it Lord!!”
“God may not show up when you want Him to….but He’s always on time.”
Blessings-
j
Hi Dana,
Great post.
There is much we can learn from the storms. Fantastic!