CLF Hurricane Ian Update 2022
October 12, 2022
CLF Hurricane Ian – Video Recap 2022
October 19, 2022
Jesus Speaks into
our Storms
There is a story found in three of the gospels where Jesus is sleeping during a storm, the disciples wake him up in a panic, and He rebukes the wind and the waves.
In one instant, Jesus silences the storm, and the disciples are left in absolute wonder saying, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” This is our Jesus, our Prince of Peace even now, who speaks into the storms of 2022 and allows us to take heart in the midst of devastation.
After the Storm
Following Hurricane Ian, a storm that wreaked havoc in our own city (Cape Coral, Florida), all of us were left dismayed at the aftermath. Whether it was a personal loss or you saw loved ones go through the thick of this storm, it impacted what we are called to do now as believers. Do we call on Jesus in the storms of life? Do we partner with Heaven to call on Jesus for others who have found themselves there?
If this is the call, we can take great joy in whatever trial comes because we know that when Jesus arrives on the scene, he changes everything.
There is Hope
There is hope right in the middle of great heartache. I don’t say this lightly, my own home was flooded by Hurricane Ian and as I saw things leave that had been in my house for years, I also felt the presence of my Heavenly Father as he reminded me that He always gives beauty for ashes.
Beauty for ashes can look like oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair, and a closer relationship with Him. His love fulfills our every need, not only in the natural but also in the eternal.
What can I do?
I wanted to take some time to review some Bible verses that have been filling my cup during this time, hoping that it overflows into yours. ❤️
Psalm 57:1
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in you and in the shadow of your wings, I will make my refuge until [these) calamities have passed by. “And in the shadow of your wings, I will make my refuge.
I pray that you see it’s God’s mercy that has you here! I don’t know what your home looks like right now, maybe it looks a bit disheveled, completely unrecognizable, or it was left with no damage at all. Whatever the case might be, God is a permanent safe place; His refuge isn’t one that loses shingles, collapse on itself, or gets filled by storm surge. Instead, it is filled with great peace that surpasses all of our understanding. He is where we can place all of our trust!
Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
I pray for your strength, my dear friend, and that you will begin to see that God is making your feet that of a hind as you scale these tremendous new heights of life. A hind is a deer that can place its feet exactly where its front feet stepped, not missing an inch. A hind lives in mountainous regions and can run the terrain without fear. They are truly free even when crossing difficult paths along the way. This verse is saying that God does the same with us! In His great sovereignty, He reshapes your feet to fit the mountain you are climbing.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I pray that during this time, you see God as our hope. Hope that devastates all brokenness and holds us through what we couldn’t imagine through the ache. You can always call on your Heavenly Father, who gives you great joy and peace that stands in the face of everything you might be going through right now.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
This verse sounds like a bold ask when in reality is a bold invitation. Be strong and courageous because the Lord is WITH you because He has never left and intends to go before you wherever you go. What a great promise from God who led Joshua and the Israelites into the Promise Land. That same God lives today and is FOR you! So take heart, for He has overcome the world!
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
I pray that this verse finds you on both sides. Some of you have found yourselves in this season in great need of comfort from our Father of compassion. Others have been comforted and are searching for ways to do the same for those in trouble after this storm. I lift up the first of you who were so blindsided by all the damage done and be expectant on how God will use His people to give you a place to stay, helping hands, and abundant love to get you through. For those that fall into the latter, I pray that He will give you healing hands as you go out into our community and renew your strength daily to not grow weary in doing good. God bless you all.
What about those that
don't know Jesus?
For those who are unsaved, if you haven’t accepted the Lord Jesus as your Savior, then I would love to take a moment to talk to you as well:
If no one has said it yet, I am deeply sorry for any loss you have experienced during this time. You were preparing for the hurricane but not anticipating the devastation it would bring, and I want to tell you that God’s heart breaks for those in mourning, no matter how big or small.
A verse in Lamentations 3:20-23 says: I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
> You were made for the hope that is daring.
>You were made for the faithful love of the Lord that never ends.
> You were made for the mornings that are filled with God's mercy.
> You were made to see the greatness of his faithfulness.
He has always been for you. Even here, God is waiting for you to run to Him just like a child and believe that He sent His only son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins and who rose again so that you would live free of shame and forever know His love for you (John 3:16).
If you are ready to accept Jesus into your life, repeat this prayer after me:
Prayer
Dear Jesus, I am ready to make you the Lord and Savior of my life. I believe you are the son of God who came to the earth and died on the cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead on the third day to give me eternal life because of your great love for me.
Forgive me for all my sins (You can name particular sins you need to surrender to God). Thank you for your grace and for letting me start over today and every day with a clean slate. I now get to experience your new mercies every morning. I invite you to come into my heart and come into my life, make me a new person whose identity is now found in you.
In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
What Now?
My heart is so full to know you have accepted Christ into your life! You have been adopted into the family of God, who loves and cares about you and is here for anything you might need.
If you have any questions following this prayer, don’t hesitate to reach out or visit our Cape Coral, Florida church campus here at Christian Life Fellowship.
For all of you, our God is a good Father who works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Closing Remarks!
Finally, I hope that this post has encouraged you and helped you. Continue to read and meditate on these Bible verses so that when the next storm hits, you will walk with great confidence, knowing that Jesus, who commands the winds and the waves, is the same Jesus who lives inside of your heart and is working in your midst.
Jesus Speaks Into Our Storm
