3 Steps to Recover From a Hurricane: Walking in Faith after Helene

There are millions of us now along the gulf coast of Florida, up through Georgia, and into the Carolinas and Tennessee that have personally experienced, or witnessed the sudden and complete devastation of our homes, lives, and communities.

It's hard to imagine that there is any life left outside of this wreckage. Hurricane Helene, was a category 4 storm, approximately 650 miles wide, that came off the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in Big Bend, FL last week devastating hundreds of thousands in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. The fast moving storm moved northward bringing havoc in apocalyptic proportions across the southeastern United States. North Carolina experienced torrential rains, and historic flooding, leaving people in mountain towns stranded. Roads, bridges, dams and power plants collapsed and/or got washed away. As of this writing, 215 people have died, and more than a million are without power. Many do not have access to water or basic necessities.

My heart is so heavy.

 Images from Clearwater, FL

Sept. 26-27, 2024

Our home was spared, and my family is safe, but the uncertainty of the future as we collectively work to rebuild, feels a bit hopeless at times. There are more storms forming in the Atlantic. Our government says that FEMA is now out of money to help hurricane victims. My neighbors, ten minutes down the street from me, have lost everything. And, we live near the water on a peninsula.....

This morning as I reflected on the external storm that hit us, I couldn't help but think of the internal storm swirling inside me, and the similarities between the two.

What is happening?

I looked up the definition of 'the perfect storm' and found it to be 'an extremely bad situation in which many bad things happen at the same time'. Yep. Accurate. I can put a check mark next to that.

Then I was curious to know more about hurricanes; what they are, and how they are formed.  And, as I was looking up these things, I came across a term used in psychology called 'The Perfect Storm Theory' which is a behavioral theory that explains how we lose control of our emotions, and why. 

Researchers define The Perfect Storm Theory as "the highest likelihood or intensity of behavior emerges when instigation and impellance are strong and inhibition is weak."

What in the world does that mean? After some digging and deciphering, I reduced it to this: 

Instigation = stressful disturbance

Impellance = our internal reponse

Inhibition = what holds us back, self-control 

Even simpler:

( Trigger/Disturbance + Fuel/Response) - Self Control = Storm 

 Likewise, a hurricane forms when a disturbance in the ocean combines unusually warm water, with high wind, and there is no physical obstacle to stop the momentum. Self-fueled, and without opposition, a hurricane will then travel thousands of miles, powered by of its own heat and wind, growing in intensity - until it meets cooler temperatures, and/or a physical barrier (land).

Hmmm. So metaphorically, we could say that the factors that trigger and fuel an emotional storm are the same factors that create and power a hurricane.

 According to psychologists, our brains will spiral in ruminating thoughts when our emotions are triggered by a stressful event, and we respond with anger or fear, lacking self-control.  Research shows that the cycle will continue until something comes along to interrupt it.

I began to wonder.... does God have anything to say about this?

I mean, I know that Jesus quieted the storm, as it says in the gospels Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25 but what can I do? How do I take my thoughts captive to Christ now when I see nothing but catastrophe all around me?

And then I thought of a better question. What if our internal storms; like hurricanes, also need to meet land, and cooler temperatures in order to dissipate? What if unlike the rare weather phenomenon that we have no control over, we can actually can take control of our inner landscape? What if He's already given us the wisdom?

I believe that He has.

I believe that we can be calm, and trust Him now by understanding the principles of psychology, and obeying HIs word. In doing so, we can effectively 'turn down the heat', 'stop the wind', and 'use Him as a physical barrier' against our mental anguish. We can quiet our soul by practicing gratitude, and self-control, and by putting our trust in Him.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

1) TURN DOWN THE HEAT WITH GRATITUDE  + MINDFULNESS

Stop what you're doing right now, and be grateful for what is good. Psychologists say that present moment awareness interrupts the cycle of ruminating thoughts. God's word says:

• Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1 

• All things are working for the good of those who love God.(Romans 8:28).

• Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. (Phil 4:8 CSB)

• Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

2) STOP THE WIND WITH PATIENCE + SELF CONTROL

We cannot control outside circumstances, but we can control our internal response to them.

• We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

• For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and self discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ. (Phil 4:6-7)

• Wait my daughter until you see how the matter turns out. (Ruth 3:8)

• For you equipped me with strength for the battle. (Psalm 18:39 ESV)

3) USE GOD AS A BARRIER

All through history, God's people have wrestled with their faith, but as they put their trust in Him, He has delivered them.

• Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5 ESV)
• The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 NIV)

• When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east to west. (Isaiah 43:2-3, 5 NLT)

• Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11 ESV)

• Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

• You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

• What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is with us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 NIV)

There may the remnants of a hurricane outside, and a few more storms brewing in the Atlantic now as I write this - but I can quiet the storm within me by focusing on the grace and power of God.

God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. ( Isaiah 30:18 The Message)

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