“You’ll have many earthly
trials and sorrows; but faith in Me will overcome them all." ~ John 16:33
Not long after Hurricane Ike swept
through Galveston, Texas in 2008, one picture surfaced that caught the world’s
attention. Despite the reality that
every structure on the gulf side of that close-knit community was gone, one
house stood tall, defying Ike’s deadly and violent wrath, almost unharmed amid miles
of coastal rubble.
Ike claimed at least 113 lives, directly or indirectly, in
the United States. It’s 15-foot storm
surge wreaked havoc from Louisiana to Corpus Christi, Texas. With damages estimated at $38 billion, the
hurricane was the second-costliest in U.S. history at the time.
Investigators determined that
the owners of the yellow house had been through a hurricane before and had
rebuilt it to hurricane standards. While
almost 200 buildings collapsed like toothpicks, the yellow house stood secure.
The real strength of any structure is below grade. The yellow house sat on reinforced concrete struts
anchored and bolted to deep stabilizing pilings. The upright struts allowed the yellow house
to sit above Ike’s raging storm surges; much higher elevation than surrounding
houses.
This image reminds me that when the wind howls and rising
waters threaten, it’s not the carpet or the paint color or the bathroom tile
that saves the house. It’s what is
unseen. Deep anchors are vitally
important for any structure to remain standing during gale-force assaults.
It reminds me of the storms sweeping into our lives right
now. Not just environmental storms, but the
emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial storms that have suddenly erupted
across the world with little no advance warning. Some will survive – others will be crushed by
its savagery.
So, what is your anchor?
Life comes with troubles, regardless of whether or not you
follow Jesus. You get to choose if you
want Him to join you in your troubles, or if you’d rather go through them
alone. Following Him doesn’t offer
immunity from difficulties. What it does
give is the opportunity to experience Him in the midst of our problems. He’ll be there with you; you won’t be alone …
ever!
Rather than focusing on the
problems, focus on the promises. Fix
your eyes on Jesus and His Word and He’ll bring peace and calm to the struggles
you face. I guarantee it; because He
says so.
Just to close out the story above, on the first day many
residents were allowed back on the peninsula, owners of the yellow house
returned to Church Street, ready to help neighbors whose homes no longer stood
with theirs. It remains intact to this
day as a symbol of strength in the Gilchrist community. You can even rent it for vacation under a
listing appropriately called "Last House Standing."
Lord God, thank you for Your powerful Presence
surrounding us. You’re the only place we find complete refuge in all that
threatens us today. Help us to be Your
vessels to offer comfort and strength to others who are hurting. Amen
