Finding Treasure After A Storm
The South Atlantic states are still cleaning up after Hurricane Florence. Weeks after the storm, West Lumberton, NC is still experiencing flooded streets and crumbling homes. Not to mention plagues of ants, mosquitoes and copperhead snakes. The Baptist Church in town has five inches of water inside. Such devastation after a storm. So how do we find God’s treasure in the midst of it?
When storms threaten, how do I find #God'sTreasure in the midst of a storm? #WhenStormsRage Click To Tweet
Clean-up efforts are ongoing—some areas of the south are still recovering from Hurricane Matthew from two years ago.
The rescue crews are exhausted. Discouragement is as high as the water levels. And this is just one town of many overwhelmed by the effects of the storm.
Storms come in many forms—like Hurricane Florence; here in Connecticut, we got the rainy remnants but nowhere near the devastation. Typhoons, hurricanes, and tornados all bring destruction to our lives and property. No one is immune. No place is fenced off.
Our storms also may be more personal like illness, death, relational struggles, or unemployment. How do we react when we experience so much turmoil? And how do we find treasures after a storm—or when we are in the midst of one?
#Storms bring destruction. No one is immune. No place is fenced off. #FindingTheGood Click To Tweet
God’s Word Encourages Me To See the Good
God’s word encourages me to see the glimmer of good in the middle of the darkness. Philippians 4:8 says to think on whatever is true, good, lovely…but HOW do I see them? A walk on the seashore after Hurricane Florence made her exit, gave me some help.
After an unusually hot, humid, and rainy summer the sun finally peeked out. As I walked along the beach looking for sea glass I found some precious pieces and tucked them in my bag. The sun felt wonderful but I discovered my shadow was in the way of seeing the ground. Walking back to my striped beach chair, I shielded my eyes against the glare of the sun.
Interesting thing though—I found more sea glass with the sun in my eyes than when my view was obscured by my shadow. Even though I had walked the same route, I missed finding the treasure the first time.
I love when God speaks in pictures like this. Like when Jesus told a story using familiar things the disciples could relate to, in order to make his point more vivid.
That’s just what God did with my hunt for sea glass.
In my next few blog posts, I want to share with you what I discovered as I walked on the beach, finding sea glass treasure:
When looking for treasure after the storm, it helps to look from more than one angle.
Looking from a distance I have a better perspective.
Gather the treasure as you find it.
Even though I had walked the same route, I missed #FindingTheTreasure the first time. #DoNotMissHisBlessing Click To Tweet
My friend, Judy who lives near Lumberton, NC saw those glimmers when Hurricane Matthew devastated their community two years ago. In the middle of that storm—and its devastation, their church, though drowning in damage, reached out to meet the needs of the people there with water, food, and support that was needed.
We are looking for hope during dark times
God created a glimmer of hope in a dark time—a treasure if you will. And He can do that same for you and me, no matter what storm we face.
West Lumberton Baptist Church is being a light in a very dark place. They have stocked their food pantry (with help from local WalMart) so the community can get needed food. They are continuing to shine as God gives them opportunities.
What storms are you facing today? How can I pray for you? Be sure to share in the comments below.
Jeanne
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Sea Glass Photo by Jeanne Doyon
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I have a friend who is in the hospital with a serious infection. She has already lost toes……but in the midst of her storm, she has comforted a woman who’s Mother is dying. Given hope and prayed for many who work in the hospital. God shines like sea glass through her to many.
Oh Jan, this is a perfect example of not letting our personal storms cloud our view and hinder being a blessing to others. Thank you for this…and praying for your friend.
Jeanne, this touched my husband & me especially. While NC is struggling to recover from Hurricane Florence, he was part of the disaster relief in Lumberton, NC following Hurricane Matthew 2 yrs. back. After the water receded from the flooded Baptist church in your picture, it was headquarters for disaster relief teams for weeks (if not months.) God’s Kingdom at work. Looking forward to your posts about the treasures God revealed to you!
Jetta, I had no idea that you were hands-on in this way during Hurricane Matthew. You were close to the ground on all of it – the struggles and the blessings that God brought about through His people and care. Thank you for sharing this with me. I appreciate you stopping in and sharing your story.
Jetta, first, a great big thank you to your husband for assisting in the disaster relief two years ago. The picture Jeanne shared is from September, 2018. Again, West Lumberton Baptist Church (my home church as a child) is facing the recovery process. Mold is much worse this time. Pastor Rick had struggled with poison ivy and his wife having stunts placed the week following Hurricane Florence. The church is still gearing up to recover from the flooding and serve the community at the same time. Please continue to pray for us. Schools received structural damage from Hurricane Florence. Schools are not scheduled to reopen in the near future. Again, thank your husband for serving our community. Blessings.
Thanks for sharing this, Judy. Hard to imagine that these photos could be from either 2016 or 2018. We are praying for the recovery there.
This is a wonderful application. Such encouragement thank you.
Hi Denise, thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I am glad it is an encouragement. We all face storms of one kind of another – and to know that God is there in it, with us, is such a comfort. He will reveal the good in it. And we will praise Him. Just knowing that He sees us and knows our struggle is a comfort to me. And then He weaves about His purpose for us even in the middle of the muck.
Love your encouragement to look at things from a different angle. I pray I can continue to shine through taking care of my 92-year-old mom with cancer. May I sparkle like the sun on the churning sea!
Penny, praying for you and your mom as you navigate this season of life. And may his treasure glitter for all to see. You are the hands and feet of Jesus as to love your mom in this way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your prayer.
I love the thoughts you pointed out about finding the treasure, especially this one: “When looking for treasure after the storm, it helps to look from more than one angle.” Thanks for the reminder, and I’ll look forward to reading more about your thoughts in future posts. (We spent four years at Camp LeJeune during our time in the Navy, and all of those places – Lumberton and others – were very familiar names as I listened to the news during the storm. My heart and prayers go out to all those who suffered devastation and are continuing to seek ways to recover.)
Julie, I appreciate your thoughts on finding the good. . . God’s treasure after a storm. Just hearing that this area hasn’t fully recovered from the last hurricane is so disheartening. Yet I hear stories of God’s provision and blessing and it humbles me. We are called to bear one another’s burdens and it seems that is just what is happening. What a testimony of God’s goodness.
Whole, perfectly shaped seashells from our beach here in Lower Alabama rest on our hallway table. They came with a storm. May the Lord give you gems with your storms.
What a gift, Dave. To think that the shells weren’t damaged in the storm is amazing. Thanks for sharing this with me.
I’ve struggled with a continuing, undiagnosed health issue for about 5 years now. I let the storm blind me to God’s gifts, even though I wrote a Bible study named Storms of Life! My friends have teased me that I need to read my own book. 🙂
Over the past 2 years, God has put many people in my path who are facing similar issues. God has blessed me so much by revealing the gems He’s given me so I can share His love and provision with them.
We have the same problems here in the Houston area. Many people haven’t recovered from the damage done by Harvey last year and now they are dealing with the flooding rains we’ve had in the last 2 months. So many businesses and churches are helping. Our support for each other is one of God’s blessings during the storm.
Oh Sweet Sherry, thank you for sharing this! I know I need to read my own stuff–all the time. Praying for you as you minister God’s graceful gems to those in your Sphere of influence. He has a purpose in that for sure
“When looking for treasure after the storm, it helps to look from more than one angle.” Boy, is that true! When we are too close to our storms our losses can blind us to the benefits. Great thoughts, Jeanne.
Thank you for your insights, Debbie. It is so true, isn’t it?! There have been so many times that I’ve been drowning in the stormy details that I miss God’s fingerprint.