He's With Us In The Storm
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Floyd's condition is stable and he continues to be strong enough for them to take him out of bed into his chair. I'm so grateful for that. It makes a big difference. We continue to pray for protection for the hospital staff from the virus.
Growing up on Galveston island off the coast of Texas, I lived through quite a few hurricanes - some mild ones, and some very terrible ones. Sometimes we stayed put on the island and weathered the storm. Other times we went inland for safety. My mom had lived there all her life. She had an uncanny ability to predict which ones would be bad. She would stand on the 17 foot seawall looking at the water with the waves coming in and get a "feel" of what was happening. There were some times when she'd say - "we need to leave." I'm sure God was guiding her and speaking to her because she knew how to hear the voice of the Lord.
There was one particular storm when she felt we should leave. We packed what we could into our car and went inland to stay with relatives. I had a doll collection - dolls from all over the world that my brothers had brought to me when they were stationed overseas with the military. I loved those dolls. But we couldn't take them with us. My parents had scrimped and saved for years to buy me a set of encyclopaedias for my studies at school. That was the first thing that went into the car!
The storm was bad. Water had risen from the Gulf of Mexico side and from the bay side. We had 6 feet of water in our house. We had to wait for the water to go down before we could even go home. When we did - everything was ruined...everything!
Including all my dolls. Clothes, furniture - it was all gone. It was a hard time for my family because we had very little money. I'll never forget the impact of that storm on our lives. Hurricane Carla is forever part of our family history. It remains one of the strongest storms to ever hit the Texas coast.
Many years later there was a movie called "The Perfect Storm." It wasn't perfect in a good way. It was perfect in a horrible, catastrophic way. There were some tragedies in the movie. I remember watching that movie and thinking it was a bit too close to reality for me. I didn't enjoy that movie.
Walking through our current pandemic has reminded me of these 2 things - the hurricanes I lived through growing up, and the movie of the perfect storm. There is now the same sense of an incredible power, a force being at work - and the helplessness of feeling unable to do anything to combat it.
When I think back to the trauma of the storms that I lived through growing up (Carla was the worst, but not the only one), what comes to me most of all is how God helped us through all the things we faced. Two things come to mind about Carla that show how God was with us in the small details of that event. My mom had just bought a very large cardboard container of detergent that had been on sale right before we had to leave the island. The container burst open when all the water came flooding in. It was slippery when we walked back into the house because of all the soap everywhere - but it also helped with the clean-up. A funny little detail that was a big help.
The second thing had to do with our dog. We weren't able to take our dog with us. It was so hard to leave him behind, but he was a big dog and there just wasn't room in our one small car with 3 people and our belongings. We were sure the dog was lost. However, as the water rose, the dog swam to an upstairs balcony and stayed there. A neighbour had stayed on the island during the storm, and he went out in his boat to see how everyone's house had fared once the winds died down. He saw our dog on the balcony, took him home, and cared for him until we returned. Phone communication was down, so we didn't even know this until we were able to return. It was a very happy reunion!
I'm not sure why these memories have come floating to the surface in recent days, but they have been very reassuring and comforting. The God who cares for the sparrow - cared for our dog in that hurricane - He cares for you, me, and our families in this current COVID-19 storm!!! We may not even see it for a while - but He is watching out for all the details of our lives. He is with us. He is caring for us in ways that aren't seen. Someday we are going to have some great stories to tell - some wonderful memories of God's goodness.
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:6,7
This verse has special significance to me. With the current treatment I'm on - I have lots of hairs falling out each day. I keep thinking that God is really having to watch over me carefully to keep count of my hairs! The number is constantly changing. :)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear......See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you?....Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-33
"You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:8 When I think of all the tears I've shed - God has collected them and made note of them. How tenderly He cares for me, for you.
"You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13,14 He has known us from before we were born - in our mother's womb. He knows every detail of who we are!
God tells us "do not be anxious about anything." Philippians 4:6 He doesn't just say to not worry about the BIG things. He knew we would also have lots of small concerns, but He tells us to give those cares to Him.
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7
"In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
I love seeing how God cares for ALL the details of our lives! He is a God of detail.
Memories are a strange thing. They can lie dormant for years and years......and then suddenly pop up. When an "old memory" rises to the surface, I usually take note as often God is speaking to me through the memory. These memories from my childhood have reminded me that God has been with me all my life. He is faithful! He is carrying me through this pandemic. Even though I'm alone here at home - and Floyd is miles away in his hospital bed......God is with us both, right by our side. He is watching over us.
I recently watched a message by Louie Giglio called "It's Okay to Freak Out." In his unique, practical, and insightful communication style, Louie talks about something that many are experiencing in the coronavirus pandemic. Freaking out! I appreciate his realness. There's no pretence, no facade, no running from what we're facing. There will be some freaking out that we all face. I love when he says that it's okay to visit a freak out moment, but we just don't move in. :)
I've had a couple "freak out" moments. Thank goodness I recognized them for what they were, and was able to turn to the Lord for His help right away. I didn't move in!
The first one was in the initial couple days of my going into isolation. I've had times of being totally alone before, so, in a sense, this wasn't a new experience for me. But something about going into this time - not knowing how long it would be, not knowing when it would end, realizing that I'm totally alone and on my own.....well, it brought some freak out emotions with it. I felt very isolated!
I had to rein in my emotions, those feelings of uncertainty. I had to speak out the truth of not being totally alone - God has never left my side. I had to submit afresh my future to the Lord. I had to step into a walk of deeper communication with Him since no one else is around. I had to face the reality of this being a season that I've never walked in before.
I reminded myself that I've had 4+ years of facing one crisis after another since that traumatic day when Floyd fell ill. One time I started making a list of everything I've had to face......and I stopped myself because the list was getting so long and it felt negative to even dwell on it. But in each of those situations, God has been there for me.......so why would I have any concern about Him helping me in this new season? Thankfully I was able to get my equilibrium back. The freak out moment passed.
My second freak out moment came a few weeks later when I heard a report of how close the virus is to our home - physically close with cases being diagnosed. I felt insecure, vulnerable, exposed. I knew those feelings weren't of the Lord, and I very, very quickly turned to Him. I spoke out my trust in His protection. I quoted verses about Him being my Rock, my Refuge, my strong tower to run to. A peace and sense of His watch-care over me flooded my heart.
I may have other freak out moments along the way......as I don't know how long I'll be in this isolation. But I know I can go to Him each time and find fresh rest in Him.
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." Psalm 18:2
"For you are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you will lead me and guide me." Psalm 31:3
"The Lord has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge." Psalm 94:22
"He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken." Psalm 62:2
"If you say, 'The Lord is my refuge,' and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:9-11
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43:2
Louie said when he had a freak out moment, he didn't feel a slap on the wrist, a rebuke from the Lord.......he felt the Lord clasping his hand and telling him it would be okay. I'm holding tight to the faithful hand of the Father in whatever is ahead! He is with me in this time of isolation.