A Storm is Coming!

As I write this, a winter storm arrives in about 12 hours. ( Its official name is Winter Storm Fern. My apologies to any Ferns out there!)

In the Dallas area, it will be sleet, ice, freezing rain, and snow. And wind chills are of the Minnesota variety of temperatures.

I have had some experiences with storms. We lived seventeen years on the Gulf Coast and faced hurricanes. Tornadoes peek out with their ugly sneer every spring.

Sometimes, the weather does not spin up the storms, but life does. Spiritual storms swirl constantly with anxiety and fear like a monsoon.

How do you approach an approaching storm?

Do what you can.

We have bought a space heater to heat the outside walls where pipes carry water. I have salt for sidewalks if needed, and a tool to shut water off at the meter. We raided the grocery store with the abandon of Genghis Khan. This afternoon, I will cover plants to give them a fighting chance against the ice. Both cars are full of gas, and all devices are fully charged.

One thing I learned is that preparing for the worst can forestall the worst in most cases.

So look at life when it gets tough. Ask a single question. “What can I do something about?” Then, go do it.

In sickness, call the doctor. When worried, pray or talk to a friend.

That’s because that’s all you can do. Then, you will have things you have no control over.

When it is out of your control, trust God to protect and do what is best.

No one can change the weather. So we live with it.

I cannot control the ice on the trees. I don’t control power lines and their proximity to trees that could cause wires to snap.

All I can do is pray for the safety of all–my family, my friends, and everyone. I hope that the property will withstand the cold and sustain minimal damage. I pray that safety will rule the day, not human hubris.

To people encountering their own storm, Peter wrote:

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, ESV)

When you have done all you can, let God do more than that. I trust that he does what is best even when I don’t understand it.

For my friends reading this, I wish you safety in this time. Make preparations while you can and then stay in, stay warm, and stay safe.

Then, let God take care of you.