God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalm 46: 1 (NIV)
My fellow Floridians, are you already weary from the deluge? I speak not of the heavy rains that soon may fall, but the torrent of news coverage we’ve already endured regarding Tropical Storm Fay. By now, you’ve no doubt seen more than your share of newscasts from outside a Home Depot and forecast maps masked by the dreaded “cone of uncertainty”.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea - Psalm 46: 2
While I have no problem with broadcasters doing their job to inform us, there is a fine line between enough information and overload. It is easy to get caught up in it all. Our culture’s preoccupation with worry prior to these storms has forced me to reflect on the amount faith we sometimes put in our weather forecasters and how little we put in our God, who is in control of it all.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding - Psalm 148: 7-8
I find it interesting (and providential) that the first storm that we will face this season is named “Fay”, a word that is pronounced the same as the Spanish word for faith, or “fe“. Is it just me, or is this a not-so-subtle reminder that we must have faith in the Lord while under the threat of such a storm? When one takes the time to reflect upon this situation Biblically, there really is no “uncertainty” at all, is there? The Scriptures tell us clearly that Christ is the one who is in charge of it all – including the weather (see Mark 4:35-41). As God’s children, we should have nothing to fear if we trust in Him.
Should you prepare for these storms? Of course you should. I Timothy 5:8 makes that abundantly clear. Are these storms serious? Absolutely. I write this post today not to minimize the situation or make light of proper preparation. I simply want to underscore this point: are we trusting more in our provisions than in the providence of our God? Our shutters more than His superintendence? If so, it’s time to repent and reform our attitudes.
What does this have to do with homeschooling? Our children watch our every move, especially during uneasy times. As parents, if we face these adversities with poise – that is, a right and proper faith in our Lord and God – then that is perhaps the greatest homeschool lesson of all.
