The stench was thick in the air. The debris littered the highways and parking lots of businesses and churches. The storm is not a respecter of persons. Hurricane Laura made landfall as a ravaging destructor last week and residents of the affected areas are in the throes of cleanup.
The storm is gone. But its leftovers remain. There are civic groups, relief teams, linemen, church volunteers, and all sorts of neighbors and friends pitching in on recovery efforts, but the truth is this is going to take some time. Neighborhoods will not be back to normal, church doors will not be open as usual, electricity is still weeks away for some. Recovery is slow.
Whether your storm is weather related, emotionally related, health related, relationship related, or something else, recovery can be as difficult as weathering the storm itself. The comfort of helpers, the relief of assistance, the satisfaction of progress, the hope of the future—these all help to ease the intensity of the recovery of any storm—but the process is long and frustrating.
So how do we make it through? How do we endure the hard parts of the recovery process?
Day by day. One bite at a time. Whatever your storm is, face today like it is all that matters. Too often we get our eyes set on the future and today becomes frazzled because we can't see how we are going to get it all done. Do the next right thing. If it's picking up debris out of your yard, cleaning your house, spending time with your family, taking a nap, or paying your bills. Whatever your next right thing is, do it. One foot in front of the other.
God's Word tells us in Matthew 6:34, Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
And, Hebrews 4:16 says, Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
When you look at the big picture of life, we know storms are going to come. God knew it would be too much for us to tackle all at once. He made a plan. One day, one 24 hour chunk of time—that's what our focus should be on. Embrace the grace and strength he gives for today. Tomorrow there will be another supply for those worries and his supply never runs dry.
What storm are you facing today? What can you do to take one step at a time?
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