So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.
Psalm 55:22 (TPT)
Though I now live on the opposite side of the country, the state I have called home for sixteen years, as well as the state in which I was born and raised, have gone up in smoke. Heck, the entire West Coast is seemingly on fire! The images of thick, dark smoke hiding the late summer sun, and the endless stories of people evacuating homes that hold entire lifetimes of memories, are sickening and heartbreaking. They leave us feeling helpless and scared as we wait and watch and fervently pray for God to intervene with a deluge, the likes of which we have never seen in our lifetimes. While it’s remarkably easy to let our imaginations run rampant as our fearful thoughts spiral and send us over the proverbial cliff, we have faith and hope in Jesus that we can stand on instead. And when we have faith in Jesus, even as things spiral and smoke, we are reminded that:
1) We can give Him our fears, because only HE is strong enough to carry them and conquer them. And once we have left them at His feet, we have no business picking them back up and carrying them a minute longer. 2) We can rest in God’s promises, because He never fails. Even when things seem incredibly bleak, He gives us everyday glimpses of His love, generosity, and faithfulness. When we start looking for those, we will see Him everywhere. 3) We can only control ourselves—our thoughts, our actions, and our words. Every other thing we must give to God. 4) We can pray for miracles, because Jesus loves to talk with us and show us HIs power. We can focus our hearts all the prayers He has already answered in our lives and trust that He will act according to His plan and His purposes. He will never abandon us!
It is easy to become discouraged, fearful, and angry over the destruction taking place in your country. But your response as a Christian is to control only what you can control and give the rest to God, encourage others, and let everyone see God’s strength, love, and faithfulness in YOU! It is your mission to point others to Him, not to panic. Faith takes courage; without it, your faith may never be revealed. So show others the faith that is within you, and remember that you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). If you waste all your energy on your fears, you will have nothing left to shine right through the smoke and point others to the Savior of the World! And never forget that God makes beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3), and our beloved states will be beautiful once again. You are prayed for and deeply loved!