Hurricane Helene startled me into whimpers of screams.

The long, slender branches of our forsythia bushes whipped against the windowpane as torrents of rain battered our home. The horrifying sound of trees crashing throughout our forest startled me into whimpers of screams. Power lines snapped like toothpicks as our home grew dark and fear began to seep in. Hurricane Helene had arrived.

She was a beast. She was terrifying.

Hurricane Helene was No Match for God’s Goodness

But even Hurricane Helene could not overcome the goodness of God. His goodness has saturated our mountain community. The light of His glory has been seen in the darkest of circumstances as He draws near to His children to love, comfort, and sustain us. Like David, we would have lost heart if we had not believed we would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

We have seen His hand everywhere.

Through this horrifying experience, I learned to be aware of God’s goodness and mercy. To look for it. To expect it. Why? Because surely He was pursuing us with His love and outstretched arm. Why? Because He promised that He would and He is not a man that He should lie. This experience caused me to believe in the goodness of God, not just because I knew God is good but because deep in my anxiety-ridden heart I needed to know in my knower that my God truly is good.

Hurricane Helene was terrifying

He heard the cries of my heart and made Himself known.

Nan, the righteous will never go begging for bread. The righteous — My children — will never be forsaken. I see Your needs. I know Your needs. And I will meet Your needs. I am Your peace forever and ever. This wilderness you and your community are experiencing is a sacred space because I walk with You. I will lead you through. I will teach you of My goodness, and comfort you in unimaginable ways. You are not alone, My child … you are not alone.

The peace of the Lord washed over me, strengthening me to endure the devastation of Hurricane Helene and help my husband get through this ordeal. His dementia took a severe hit from the trauma, but again, the goodness of God carried us through. Being aware of His goodness, then looking for it, and expecting it was a game-changer for me.

I want the same for you.

God strengthened me to endure the devastation of Hurricane Helene

Are you in an extremely challenging, difficult place? Are you overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control? Take heart. Look for God’s goodness and you will find it.

Nahum 1:7 reads, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”

Mark 10:18 tells us, “No one is good but One, that is God.”

I Love the Secret Place of the Most High God

As Hurricane Helene howled outside our home, I offered my whimpers of screams and anxiety-ridden heart to the Lord. Praise began to flow through my lips as candlelight flickered in the darkness. The Lord brought to my remembrance a favorite psalm, Psalm 91: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.'”

Indeed.

He is my refuge. I would have lost heart if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Selah

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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,