“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Living in Florida, we know all to well about heavy rain, floods and storms. June 1st will mark the beginning of the hurricane season and will last through November 30th. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOA) has forecasted that there is a good chance for 9 to 14 named storms this year. Four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).

What the NOAA stresses is not to focus on the storms but on taking action and being prepared. While hurricanes can be disastrous, they do not come unexpected. Most companies have a Hurricane Preparedness plan entailing the measures that need to take place to protect their employees and secure the premises. There are a series of guidelines such as buying supplies, securing your dwelling place, your pets, etc. in order to be prepared.

In life, we all go through storms. These however usually don’t come with advanced notice. These storms come in all forms… from personal illness or illness of a family member, a sudden accident, loss of a loved one, financial crisis, etc. A series of emotions such as anxiety, worry, fear and doubt have a tendency to creep in during these times. These feelings can exacerbate the situation.

Jesus tells us however in His Word that despite the fact that there will be trouble, we can rest on Him. He helps us to overcome every circumstance, every illness, and every trouble. He is our Deliverer! All we need to do is take action! We need to prepare just as we do for storms of nature. He has given all of the tools we need. Our preparedness plan is a continual plan, not just one we use when the rain comes. The guidelines must entail reading His Word, spending time with the Lord daily, praising Him, trusting Him and fellowshipping with our church body. The plan is rock solid. With Him, we can survive the storms of life!

Have you been through a storm? Share your comments of how the Lord saw you through.

Congratulations to our daughter and new son-in-law, Lt. Derek and Christina DeBruhl on their recent union. Their nuptials took place on May 24, 2009 in the Cadet Chapel of West Point Military Academy. We pray God’s blessing over the happy couple!