Storms of Life, Trust, and God’s Sovereignty

Hurricane Helene roared up the west coast of Florida and left devastation in her wake across several states. Two weeks later, Hurricane Milton blew up in the Gulf, sliced through Florida, and left more devastation before exiting over the Atlantic. Before Milton arrived, a record number of tornados ripped through my town leaving even more devastation.

People across multiple states prepared. And we prayed. And we trusted God.

Could God have downgraded both hurricanes? Yes. Could He have prevented them from forming to begin with? Again, yes. Or sent them on another path back out to the ocean where they wouldn’t harm anyone? A third yes.

But He didn’t.

He didn’t with Hurricane Harvey. Or Hurricane Sandy. Or Katrina, Andrew, or the many other storms that have taken lives while cutting swathes of destruction over the years.

Still, let’s not blame God for our broken world. For a world spiraling out of control. For hurricanes and terrorists. For corruption and despair.

They’re all the natural outcome of thousands of years of humanity pursuing life apart from our Creator.

However God did not abandon us to our choices. He sent His Son, Jesus, to restore that broken relationship. And while we can decide to trust Him individually for this salvation, we continue to live in a damaged world that awaits full redemption. A world “groaning” with hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, floods, and every other natural disaster as it waits for the culmination of God’s promised restoration (Romans 8:21-22).

So what do we do now?

We continue to watch and pray. We pray for God’s intervention before each new storm. For mercy in the midst of the storms of life. And for grace in the aftermath as we clean up the debris and—for many—start over after unimaginable loss.

And as we pray for and receive His mercy and grace even in the midst of devastation, let’s please remember one thing:

Cultivating intimacy with the one who is both Creator of the universe and the Savior of our souls is a 24/7, moment-by-moment relationship,
not only in the storms of life, but also before they arise,
and long after they are gone.