Weathering the Storm with Christ

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:8-10,16-18

I piled my boys into the car last Friday morning and drove to Dallas after my husband and I made the decision that we should evacuate. We have been through two floods in the past two years and we knew the possibility of the same scenario playing out again given the formidable forecast. We agreed he should stay behind to take care of the house. It was difficult to give him a hug good-bye not knowing how things would play out. We had no idea what the following days would hold and the utter devastation Harvey had in store.

Our home flooded again but it is far from catastrophic. We took in some water in a part of the house but it is minimal considering what so many are dealing with across our city and beyond. We are so grateful to have the resources and community to get through this again and we are confident that the Lord will provide what we need. But as I process this while still in Dallas, my heart is breaking for those who have been completely wiped out and will be starting over—for those in shelters not knowing the next steps or what they will eat or wear tomorrow. I can’t get my head around how our city is going to recover and the time it will take but I know it will be one step at a time and we will get there eventually.

A sweet friend of mine sent me this quote after the worst flooding day in Houston. It’s from my favorite devotional, Streams in the Desert:

“It is quite easy for us to talk and to theorize about faith, but God often puts us into His crucible of affliction to test the purity of our gold and to separate the dross from the metal. How happy we are if the hurricanes that blow across life’s raging sea have the effect of making Jesus more precious to us! It is better to weather the storm with Christ than to sail smooth waters without Him.” -J. R. Macduff

What amazing timing. I have thought a lot about weathering the storm with Christ. The devastation we are all either witnessing or experiencing can cause a sense of helplessness. This is when we need to call out to our Heavenly Father and remember that Jesus is glorified in our desperation and He is magnified in our dependence. There will continue to be waves of pain and heartbreak as this marathon continues over the weeks and months ahead. But, to paraphrase Corrie ten Boom, there are no deep places of pain and suffering that the Lord’s love is not deeper still. We have opportunities right now to be a voice of hope to those who are in desperate situations.

“Look around and be distressed.

Look within and be depressed.

Look at Jesus and be at rest.”

-Corrie ten Boom

With love, Courtney

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