Fires, Floods & Fierce Storms; A Reality Check

Austin and I with the kiddos left for a road trip out to visit supporters (part of the life of a missionary) while our state was ablaze with 13 fires. The day we left the state, Colorado Springs had just evacuated 32,000 people from their homes because of the Waldo Canyon fire which ended up destroying 346 homes. One of the other fires happening in Colorado was the High Park Fire (just north of Denver) and has destroyed 259 homes, a state record until the fire near Colorado Springs destroyed 346 homes. We've never seen anything like this before. 

The day we arrived in New Jersey a freak storm (called a Derecho) that caught even newscasters by storm happened causing "catastrophic damage" putting over 3 million people out of power. I have never seen anything like that in my life. The entire sky was light continually for the amount of lightening and winds of 75 miles per hour downing trees on top of houses and cars, even pulling up mature trees right from the ground. (The tree in the above picture is of Austin's brother's backyard, where we are staying). A storm this bad (even hurricanes) hasn't happened in at least over 100 years in NJ.

And between these, massive floods in Florida. 

"I've never seen anything like this" is a comment being said and heard by many all over the country. But how crazy is that! We've never seen anything like this! Through seeing the fires and the fiercest of storms I am stuck by God's power. 

"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of water may cover you? 
Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'? 
Job 38:34-35

I am reminded God can do as He pleases when He pleases. I am reminded that God is not on our time schedule. I am reminded that God is the boss and I am not. 

But I am struck by the fact that I have never seen His power manifested like this in my lifetime. Yet, I see His grace on a daily basis as He causes the sun to shine on the good and bad. I have experienced His gentleness on a moment by moment basis, leading, convicting and directing me. 

How can that be!? That this powerful God holds back His power for the sake of showing His grace and gentleness! Just wow.

These natural disasters, from fire to flood to fierce storm bring me to repentance of a low view of God. A view of God that thinks and acts as though He is here to serve us. A view of God that thinks we're in control and God is here to make us happy and successful. 

Are these disasters bringing you low? What will it take to humble you of a low view of God?

Jim Elliot's final journal entry before giving his life as a martyr said in response to reading David Brainard's writings, "I've got to start confessing my pride on an hourly basis." Surely if even Jim Elliot needed humbling ever hour, so do us all. 

Will you join me in praying? 
Will you pray for our nation that God would drive us to our knees in repentance of a low view of God. 

And if you need to confess a low view of God will you? 

Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks 10-20 times a year. Laura is an award winning author of a 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, recently released Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest and youtube.

---

Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.

Please share to maximize drawing near to the Lord through these natural disasters.