With Hurricane Florence on the way to the Carolinas it can be easy to get carried away with worry and dread. No doubt we should take thoughtful and practical precautions, especially if we live near the coast or in harm's way, by purchasing non-perishables, protecting our property, etc. When facing the prospect of a natural disaster, God would have us be wise and thoughtful like the ant that prepares ahead of a time of scarcity (Proverbs 6) or like the man who builds on rock instead of sand (Matthew 7).
However, God means us to give even more thought to our spiritual food and house by trusting in and clinging to the Lord of the Harvest (Psalm 85), the very Rock of Ages (Isaiah 26). The same hands that formed the earth and seas and heavens steadfastly holds, saves, and provides for us all still (Psalm 136). He alone is our sure source of aid, sustenance, security, and life in a world that is still not as it should be.
I love the timely words from Psalm 65 that I read this morning:
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. (Psalm 65:5-8a)
Our God is indeed God of the earth, seas, and of our salvation. He is still Lord of the creation and still doing awesome deeds! While we prepare for and endure what this stormy world throws at us, let us remember and cast every anxiety into the strong and capable hands of the righteous one who cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
May God bless you and keep you today and every day in his might and kindness.