September 16 -

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety” - Psalm 4:8

Mary-Beth stood on the lawn surrounded by the debris of what , a few short hours ago, had been home to Mary-Beth and her five children. Practically every house on the whole of the tree lined suburban road had been ripped apart by the violence of the hurricane and tornadoes that had hit the mainland on it's destructive journey across the West Indies.

Mary-Beth had had to evacuate her home as the eye of the storm was rapidly approaching. She'd had to leave everything behind as she and her family fled for safety. As a result she had nothing but the clothes she and her family stood in.

Nation-wide TV followed her every move as she sorted through the rubble to see if there was anything they could retrieve. The interviewer asked Mary-Beth, “How do you feel as you look at the damage to your home? Why do you think it happened? What are you and your family going to do now?” Mary-Beth replied: “I'm not the only one. I may have lost everything we'd worked hard for, but I just thank God He kept me and my family safe. God will be with us, everything will be alright”.

Mary-Beth was just one of several people interviewed across the disaster areas who openly gave testimony to the goodness, dependency, and care of God – this, even in the case of one woman who had watched, unable to help, as her mother was swept away in the floods created by the tsunami that came hot on the heels of the hurricane. Also missing were three of her children, yet like Mary-Beth she declared her allegiance to God.

In Mexico a maximum category earthquake, followed by sixty-five after shocks, hit at a time when most people were in their homes. Hundreds were killed, others buried alive, children left orphans. Buildings had collapsed like a pack of cards, so they too had only the clothes they stood in. The situation became worse by the day as flood waters rose. Despite the tragedy all around them, yet person after person demonstrated implicit trust in God – a faith that allowed not one iota of doubt to enter their minds. Despite their grief they had their priorities right.

When we look around our homes and imagine having to evacuate it with our families in an instant, leaving all of our goods, clothes, food etc. behind – all we have is the clothes we stand in. How would we react? Would we grieve for the loss of material goods, all we have worked for over a lifetime? Blame God? Or, thank Him that He has kept us and our family safe, and we are content to leave the future in His hands – He will provide? Do we look at the earthly, or the eternal?

Gaither Vocal Band (LIVE) “I do Believe”- today's music. Click on the picture to listen.