“Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:8-11
While living in Haiti I experienced two tropical storms but never a hurricane. While living there it was surprising that there were not many warnings about imminent storms as “back in the day” we didn’t have smart phones and the technology we have today. At this time of year, I watch the weather forecast for hurricanes that form bright red splotches on the radar over Haiti. In 2016 I knew that friends in Port-au-Prince living on the mountainside were in peril and those in Gonaives on the base of the mountain were surely going to be hit very hard. I heard a man on the weather channel say that the people in Haiti were going to have to ‘hunker’ down for the day as intense rain and wind would be blowing through. That made me think about this child named Suzette and her family and their home which is not a safe place to hunker down in during a hurricane. This little stick home west of Les Cayes is not alone as there are thousands like this where God’s children will spend the day listening to the storm and praying. It rains on both the saved and the unsaved. We pray that God’s will is accomplished in our brothers and sisters in Haiti through these storms, bringing many of those who are lost and still follow vodou to ask why this family who follow the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, have hope in tomorrow. I am closing today with the words from the hymn Be Still, My Soul that were written by Catharina von Schlegel in 1975.
“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to thy God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake to guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart and all is darkened in the vale of tears; then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears. Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay from His own fulness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen