I just have to be totally honest and tell you that yesterday was a really hard day for me.  I live in Central Virginia, in a very rural area, and all of the newscasts all day long were all about Hurricane Florence.  I was praying and trying to not get stressed, but the more they talked, the more nervous I got.  Living in a modular is not safe in a big wind storm.  Then, I got a text from our son in Maryland.  He wanted to make sure that we would be leaving our home and going somewhere safer.  So, I texted my other son who lives about an hour south of us in Virginia, and he said that he and his wife were planning on possibly evacuating to Pennsylvania to be with her parents, so we could come stay in his house.  Hard decisions.  At his house, more rain is proomising to come, so that’s an iffy situation, too.  About noon or so, my husband headed out to do errands, one of which was to find food that I can actually eat for an extended period of time without electricity.  He didn’t get back until after five and he was able to find things for me.  Meanwhile, I was left alone all afternoon with my thoughts, i.e. Satan attacking me and telling me all the awful things that were going to happen.  I know the Scriptures…perfect peace, trust and all of those kept coming to my mind throughout the day.  Last night, after a late dinner, I sat down to read my Bible and this is what the Lord spoke to me.

So, the storm is still heading our way, although the winds are not expected to be as high.  I am still nervous but not suffering from a stress headache that can be dangerous for me.  I am seeking God and know that He will give me His strength.  I know that His grace is all that I will need to make it through this storm.  We have done all that we know to do to prepare—we have water, batteries, flashlights, and food.  So, we are as ready as we can be.  Life has storms all the time; a loved one dies, you get very ill; something happens to your home or car; your finances are a mess.  But God is always there, no matter what you are going through.  He wants to strengthen you and to let you know that during the times you are feeling your weakest, His strength will sustain you.  So, yes, Hurricane Florence is coming, and it will pass.  It’s a storm that we can see on the news (ad nauseum), but there are storms that will come unexpectedly, suddenly, and without any notice.  I hope that you are ready for those storms in your life and will turn to the only one who can keep you safe.  He is our Anchor in the storm, a very present help in trouble.  (cf. Isaiah 25:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 91:15). God bless all of you and keep you safe!  

The following song is very special to me and I cannot listen to it without crying.  You see, it is the song that the Lord gave me as we traveled nine hours to Pennsylvania to be with her when our beloved daughter lost her baby in the seventh month of pregnancy.  Little Tessa went to be with the Lord and we were left to pick up the pieces of our lives.  I still cry when I hear this song, not because of how sad it makes me, but because of the hope it gives me because God is there no matter what expectations that we had that were dashed.  We may not always understand, but God will be with us no matter what.  I hope that is your takeaway from this post.