A LITTLE DAMAGE BUT STILL STANDING

The nonstop coverage of Hurricane Irene began Friday evening. There were hourly updates, pinpointing exactly which city was being pounded at the moment, the projected paths of destruction and estimated arrival times at various cities all along the Eastern Seaboard. By Saturday evening, New York City was at a standstill. Subways and mass transit systems including airports had been shut down and many had evacuated in anticipation of the havoc, Irene was expected to bring with her. Although, the storm weakened as it made its way up the coast and inland, there were still reports of flooding, downed trees and lost lives.

I am always struck by the dedicated reporters. They brave wind, rain, stand on boardwalks watching the crashing waves, covered in sea foam and sand all to bring us the up-to-the minute reports we watch from a distance in the safety of our homes. If I am ever caught in a catastrophic disaster, I’m going to look for the nearest reporter and stick to them like glue because they somehow usually come through the storm unscathed. As I watched the reports Sunday morning, this simple little statement of “hurt but hope,” stood out. The reporter said, “There’s a little damage to the bridge after the storm but it is still standing.” The winds had buffeted, the rain had poured down and the surf had pounded against the bridge, but after the storm passed by, the bridge stood tall against the skyline.

Most times life doesn’t give us warnings of the approaching storm. We don’t have the luxury of a nonstop encouraging word Friday night into Saturday to prepare us for Sunday’s storm. They always seem to come from nowhere and hit us full force with unrelenting fury. Recently, an unexpected hurricane slammed head-on into my life. I had no time to board up the windows and evacuate. No, this was a storm that I would just have to ride out on my knees holding on to the Word of God. The wind blew, the rain fell and the surf pounded against the very foundation of my soul but like the securely fastened reporter, I lashed myself to the Rock until the storm finally died down and calm prevailed. Over the past few days, I have taken the time to access the damage. I’ve nursed some cuts and scrapes, a few bruises are still tender but I can say with all thanksgiving, “There’s a little damage to the bridge after the storm, but I’m still standing.”

You may be going through the worst storm of your life. It may seem at times that the ground is shaking beneath your feet and you are barely holding on. Remember it isn’t about the storm; it is all about the foundation. The bridge withstood the hurricane because the builder had anchored it deep into the ground. If your foundation is built upon the Rock and you are deeply anchored in Christ Jesus, you can weather any storm that unexpectedly comes your way. You may come out bruised and battered and there may be a “little damage to the bridge” yet, you can lift your hands toward Heaven and say, “But I’m still standing.”