I’ve lived in Washington most of my life, and one thing I’ve become very familiar with is the changing of seasons. I know that in the rainy months, I need my raincoat. In the winter, even though snow is pretty sporadic here, I pull out my winter coat. And in the summertime, thanks to my beautiful wife Maysa (who I’m pretty sure is part mermaid), I’m constantly reminded to wear sunblock, she loves to swim!
Because I’ve spent so much of my life in the Pacific Northwest, I know what to expect from the seasons. And by the grace of God, something I’ve never experienced is a hurricane. I have no clue what I would need if I were in the midst of one, or how I would react. If you’ve ever gone through a hurricane and lived to tell the tale, I’d love to hear your story.
When we walk through familiar seasons like summer, fall, or winter, we generally know how to prepare and respond. When we’re thrown into a life “hurricane,” how do we handle it? The truth is, some of us think we know how we’d react to sudden, life-shaking events, but until we walk through those emotions, we really can’t be sure.
Two years ago, I faced an emotional hurricane. I lost my Aunt Denise. We were so close, I saw her as a mother figure. In the months leading up to her passing, I had no clue I was about to lose her. She embraced me and loved me more than I can put into words. I miss her deeply.
Just six months later, I lost my oldest sister, Zaina. That year was a season of deep loss and pain. So much change was happening so quickly, and I didn’t know how to react because I had never faced anything like it before. But what I felt led to do was to pray; and that’s what I did. I leaned on the community God placed around me, and I prayed continually for peace.
I want to share a story that’s stayed with me. In 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the southern part of the United States, affecting many states. One small beach town called Gilchrist, Texas, was home to about 200 houses. When the hurricane struck, it destroyed 199 of them. Only one house was left standing.
Quite a miracle, right?
Why was that one house left standing? Because its owners had been through storms before. They knew they needed a master builder to reinforce their house so it could withstand future storms.
Whenever I think about that story, it reminds me that God is the Master Builder of my life.
It’s not a question of if storms will come—it’s when. And when they do, I know I’m fortified by my faith in Him.
When I lost my Aunt Denise and my sister Zaina within one year, I leaned on God even in that drastic shift. When life changes suddenly, I know I can trust God because through all the seasons of my life, He has been faithful and good.
You can trust God too, even when life changes suddenly. I know this because His truth reminds me: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
My encouragement to you is this: Trust God in every season of your life. Know that He is present, He hears you, and He is with you, always.
