On a middle-of-the-week sort of night when the week feels like a full and people everywhere and pulling on energy sources to make it through to Friday night, something happens that changes not weekend plans, but lives.
On Wednesday night of April 27th, 2011, a record-breaking storm collided with the South hitting it with winds of almost 200 mph and a tornado taking approximately 167 miles of ground in one landing. The word Devastation is impregnated with a whole new meaning taking effect on multiple levels.
With over 270 tornadoes reported, over six states were affected by this storm; to name the primary route- Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky.
Due to the intensity of the storm(s), the death count continues to rise as bodies are discovered beneath the remains on what was. Over 300 have been declared dead up till now with most of the deaths occurring in area hit by the record-breaking, should I say heart-breaking storm in Birmingham, Alabama.
Yet, in the midst of this disastrously evil storm, there is ground to stand on. Being one who had the storm route detour at a moment's last, I feel inadequate to speak from the affect, but I do know what it looks like to have gone through storms in life and come out to see redemption that I never could have imagined. From my personal belief and, moreover, relationship with the Father, I know Him to be not of the storm's cause, but instead the One who fights jealously in it's midst.
As I mentioned, I endured the wind but did not feel it's affects. However, I do have a friend who did and lives to tell her testimony. Just 20 minutes South of my home, she received a call at about midnight on Wednesday, and 30 seconds later was huddled in her kitchen pantry with her family. It was not until opening the door of her unshaken pantry that she saw it was the only structure that still stood. Everything else around had been swept away including her entire second floor where her father, who had just come in town to visit, was sleeping.
Quite frankly, it is a miracle that she ended up in her pantry with her husband and two children when she did. Prior to that moment, her friend had been up watching the news and saw that the storm was right over their home in Spalding County, GA and decided to call her friend to let her know in case she was asleep, which she was. Unknowingly, 30 seconds is all the time she had to jump out of her bed, gather her children and find shelter in their pantry before the tornado hit her home. Her husband had actually tried to make it up the stairs to his father-in-law after after making sure his family was safe in the pantry, but the vacuum-force of the twisting wind was so strong he couldn't get to him and had to bolt back to his family. He told his wife ad they had prepared for the worst. Yet, in the midst of the swirling fear they did not stop believing, instead they quoted scripture from the Bible as it came to mind.
The way that storms work astound me, because even then the jealousy of the Father cannot be stopped.
Her father had been awoken with a sense of alarm knowing a storm was near and as he scrambled to get out of bed and make it to the stairs, the roof collapsed and was swept away. Cannily enough, there were two armoires in the room that just happened to collapse together right over her father making a teepee shape, with the headboard to the bed blown onto another side. He was protected in his own little bubble.
After the storm has passed, he crawled his way out out his shelter and made his way down the roof of the house that now lay in remains in the front of the house.
As this concerned daughter opened the door to her pantry where all the food still remained on the shelf, she walked out expecting to find her father dead, but instead what she saw was her father walking around the side of what was her house to find his family.
Though this two story home was simple a foundation now, one wall that still stood had painted on it already "Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle." And on a small wall in the kitchen, they had inscribed "The Lord is my Strength and my Refuge."
These words would never be as true to them as they were at this moment.
Though all material things had been blown away, along with a barn and RV in their backyard that was literally nowhere to be found, she had all she needed- the ones she Loved. They were all unscathed with their faith still intact.
Though they are now in the process of finding a new home and replacing lost things, all has been coming together with the help of many.
As I walked on to the site, I could not help but cry. Oddly enough, the emotion that initially could have been sadness, was turned to a refreshing joy that could only be experienced standing on this Holy ground- for God was there.
He does not cause the storm to come, but he works in it to a finished end of Redemption.
The One who gives every good and perfect gift proclaims that "He who started a good work will finish it."
This phrase that was so true to me in the emotional storms of my life, still rings true here.
"Do not tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is."
Jesus said, "Peace, be still."
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