I would imagine that August 29 is a day that many Louisiana natives would like to forget. In 2005 hurricane Katrina slammed into the coast, causing over 1,800 deaths and $125 billion in damages. Then this past weekend, 16 years to the date, hurricane Ida likewise pummeled the Pelican State with flooding rains and winds in excess of 100 miles per hour.
The images from both are heartbreaking—entire neighborhoods submerged under water, businesses leveled, entire families being rescued from the roofs of their homes. But there is one image, specifically from the 2005 storm, that is particularly stunning—but not because of the carnage and devastation. Quite the opposite, actually. It’s an image of hope. It’s an image of what appears to be thousands of men, women, and children seeking shelter in the safety of the Superdome. Normally filled with tens of thousands of screaming fans cheering on the New Orleans Saints, the colossal domed stadium became a refuge for those seeking protection from the storm.
In keeping with the same analogy, where do you turn when the storms of life come? Not from physical storms, but from the storms that we inevitably experience at various points in our lives. Whether it be some sort of loss, an unresolved conflict, a painful memory—where do you find protection when “the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12) seem determined to destroy your life and devastate your soul?
The good news is you don’t have to weather those storms alone. You can “[dwell] in the shelter of the Most High,” in the “shadow of the Almighty.” You can “say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:1-2). When the storms of life begin to gather on the horizon, don’t try and brave the elements on your own. You can’t—you’re not as strong as you think you are. Instead, run to the one who is a “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
VC Devotionals 