“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul’ (giving me perspective, peace, and trust). (Psalm 94:19). “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or live in the cone of the hurricane), I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Lord Jesus, as the sun comes up to today, so are the winds of Hurricane Ian. We own our fears, state our worries, and come to your occupied throne of grace. We pray for the people of Cuba and Florida—especially for the most vulnerable, the elderly, and children. Loss of property is one thing; loss of life is a whole different category. We also pray for first responders, already at work.

Like the Psalmist, our anxious thoughts are multiplying. Thank you for being present before, during, and after Hurricane Ian—and every other type of “hurricane.” Some hurricanes happen in the environment. Others blow into our homes, health, and hearts. There’s not a day we don’t need you, Jesus, nor a day you aren’t with us and for us.

We know we don’t have to ask “Why?” big storms come to us—as though those in the cone of the hurricane (or some other crisis) are more deserving of major life-disruption than others (Matt. 5:45). The most timely question we can ask is, “Who can we love, serve, and help?” For, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal. 5:6).

May neighbor-love be on full display—transcending everything that normally divides us. Rescue us, Jesus, if not from the storm by it. In the coming days, may we be joyful servants, mercy conduits, and grace dispensers. So Very Amen we pray

Scottie Smith

(Verse)
Lord, we confess our many faults
And how great our guilt has been
Foolish and vain were all of our thoughts
No good could come from within

(Chorus)
But by the Mercy of our God
All of our Hopes begin
And by The Water and The Blood
Our souls are washed from sin
Our souls are washed

(Verse)
Itʼs not by the works of righteousness
Which our own hands have done
But we are saved by our Fatherʼs grace
Abounding through His Son

(Chorus)
But by the Mercy of our God
All of our Hopes begin
And by The Water and The Blood
Our souls are washed from sin
Our souls are washed from sin

(Bridge)
Oh we are saved by our Fatherʼs grace
Abounding through His Son
Abounding through His Son

(Chorus)
But by the mercy of our God
All our hopes begin
And by the water and the blood
Our souls are washed
Our souls are washed
Our souls are washed
From sin

The poem, entitled “Afraid?” was written by Presbyterian missionary E.H. Hamilton following the recent martyrdom of one of his colleagues, J.W. Vinson.

Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour’s face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace,
The glory gleam from wounds of grace,
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash – a crash – a pierced heart;
Brief darkness – Light – O Heaven’s art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven’s rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not –
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? Of that?

“Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” 

Joni Eareckson

 "In the one place in the Bible where the Son of God pulls back the veil and lets us peer way down into the core of who he is, we are not told that he is “austere and demanding in heart.” We are not told that he is “exalted and dignified in heart.” We are not even told that he is “joyful and generous in heart.” Letting Jesus set the terms, his surprising claim is that he is “gentle and lowly in heart.”

Dane Ortlund