My friend Cesar is texting me this morning from Puerto Rico as Hurricane Maria’s 155 mph winds lash his building. He was on the 15th floor, but when the building began to sway, he moved down to the lobby.
“Both elevators have water dripping. A window was left open and water is coming in.”
Text is an amazing thing. You can be going through a hurricane and still give reports from the middle of it.
Jesus tells us that “in life we will have storms.”* And then he tells us to take heart. But when you’re in a storm, sometimes all you feel is fear. Your fight or flight instinct kicks in.
What do I text back to Cesar? What do we tell anyone who is going through a storm? What would you text him?
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One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year is how many times, I don’t need to say anything. Our (I’ll just own my actions, and say MY) disposition is helping someone process by asking questions or volunteering an empathetic story.
But there’s a lot to be said for simply holding space for someone. Not saying anything, other than, “I’m here.” Just being there – physically, sitting with them; or emotionally, by remaining available and present to the person.
Granted, that’s probably shallow advice when a friend is texting you in a literal hurricane – but what if it’s less about what we can “do” or “say”, and more about showing up, and shouldering the burden alongside them?
Great insight, Kayla. It’s the ministry of presence that often counts the most.
the song “In the Eye of the Storm” comes to mind…and for him literally. Remind him that through the storm God is now and has always been and always will be in control. Also the song “I am (holding on to you) is another one…both I listen to during the “storms” in my life.. I pray he can keep his eyes fixed on Jesus and hold on to him during the storm. God is powerful and can calm the storms. No storm is too big
Remind him that he is not alone, Jesus is right there with him through it all… He w
Thanks, Sissy – that’s encouraging.
Let us praise GOD together for His promise that He is a VERY PRESENT help In trouble. Refuge in HIM is the ever ready STORM shelter. Take refugre there and rest…