A note from Kelly King: How many times have you prayed for people affected by hurricanes or other types of natural disasters? How many times have you prayed for people affected by the storms of life? Both are important. As you read Kaye’s article today, take a moment to pray for both.
From time to time, all of us face storms in this life. They vary in strength, duration, and intensity.
As I sit to write this morning, my newly adopted state of Florida and neighborhood is preparing for a storm. Hurricane Dorian has just been classified as a Category 5 hurricane and is a couple hundred miles off the east coast of this state I now call home. I lived on the east coast in South Florida for 16 years of my younger life and faced more than one hurricane. That said, it has been a full 16 years since I have lived here, and I appreciate the reminders of how to best prepare for the storm. As I have been making my own preparations this week and helping others with theirs, I am struck by the similarities between preparing for Dorian’s landfall and emotionally preparing for the category 5 storms that make landfall on our souls.
Whether you are in a storm, watching one approach, or sailing on calm waters right now, consider these four essentials for storm preparedness:
1. Prepare. Before Dorian reached full strength, fellow Floridians were buying batteries, propane, water, canned goods, fuel for their cars, along with anything else they considered helpful should they lose power. These folks heed warnings wisely and take necessary precautions. If you see a life storm ahead of you, prepare. That may mean taking financial precautions, adjusting your personal calendar, enlisting support before it’s critical, or getting wise counsel from someone who has walked a similar path. Prepare yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
2. Don’t go it alone. We were never meant to do life in isolation. We ALL need help in varying degrees from time to time. Ask for help. Be willing to receive help that is offered. This is the way of the Kingdom of God.
3. Don’t panic. Worry, anxiety, and fear are tools the enemy uses to keep us trapped and paralyzed. He can’t steal your salvation but would sure love to ding your faith. When thoughts of worry creep in, take them captive and make them obedient to Christ! Replace the narrative of fear and anxiety with truth from Scripture. Pray and speak the Word into your situation. Remember the promises from Scripture; Jesus is in the storm with you. Even the wind and waves obey His voice. Listen for the sound of His voice speaking calm over your storm—regardless of the circumstances swirling around you. Even in gale force winds, you can be at peace—with His peace that passes human understanding. Pray. Pray. Pray.
4. Stay prepared. Before the storm is ever on the horizon, be in the Word. Memorize Scripture, engage spiritual disciplines that strengthen your faith and spiritual maturity. Some storms can be tracked, while others cannot—so stay prepared.
Are you facing a storm right now? Do you see one or can you sense one coming in the distance? I encourage you to prepare, enlist help from others, and remain calm. If you are not in a storm, right now is the time to prepare! I am praying that even now you are being built up in your faith!
Kaye Hurta has a Masters Degree in counseling from Liberty University and is a crisis counselor for Women’s Events through LifeWay Christian Resources. Whether speaking, singing, or listening, Kaye’s passion is to help others find intimacy with Christ and soul transformation through the living pages of His Word. Kaye met and married her husband Chris in Austin, Texas in 1987. They have two daughters through the miracle of adoption, Madison and Cami. Kaye is also a contributing author for the LifeWay resource, Women Reaching Women in Crisis.
