Preparation and faith. Some people believe in being prepared. Some depend on luck, fate, or “whatever will be.” Having just gone through a hurricane for the first time, I have some observations. The first is the most obvious: going through a storm via television news is nothing like going through one in person!
Observations:
- Preparation is essential. Jesus talked about preparation in Luke 14. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
- Do what you can Heading into a season of uncertainty, one knows not how long or precisely what all you will need. So, as in all of life, you do what you can and go with the best information available.
- Listen to the ones who have survived previous storms. I picked up bits and pieces from listening to those around me.
- I found a list, and I worked it! flashlights, batteries, an emergency radio with a hand crank, matches, non-perishable food, and water; we filled both bathtubs and moved all the outdoor furniture and items inside. This should be no surprise to my friends. I love lists and working through them.
- We did the best we could and trusted the Lord. I know there are people down through the years who have trusted the Lord and not made it through their storm. Yet, I firmly believe faith is a comfort and brings peace to people who place their trust in the Lord.
- Each storm informs your subsequent storm preparation. There are always lessons to be learned. What not to do next time? What are things that I would have done sooner or things not to do at all?
Another area of our lives is what I like to call “creative tension.” Trying to keep things in balance during this storm experience was between being adequately prepared, remaining calm, and trusting the Lord. I have referenced a passage of Scripture in which Jesus tells us to be thoroughly prepared and to count the cost. The point of His two illustrations: someone is preparing to build a tower, and a King is thinking of going to war. Count the cost. Jesus is reminding us it is much easier to start something than to persevere and hang in and finish what we started. One thing about the storm is that if you commit to staying, you will have to remain until it is over.
Throughout our lives, we are faced with making choices and decisions. Our life is the sum of our choices. Some things happen in our lives that were not our choices, illness, actions of others, etc. Regardless I have the opportunity to choose my attitude and move forward.
Storm preparation is much like life; you do your best with the information available and then persevere. Ultimately the storm reminds us that our lives are in God’s Hands. How should we live? Confident, trusting, prepared, and willing to count the cost and ask the hard question: ‘am I prepared to the best of my ability?’.
Please pray for those suffering damage and loss throughout Florida and beyond. Find an organization you are confident in and donate. Remember storms will come and be prepared as much as possible and rely on God
