Letter to Church Regarding Hurricane Helene

Church family,

Even as a boy who grew up in the ‘hurricane lane’ of the Florida Panhandle, it never ceases to amaze and sober me to see what these strong storms can do. We knew Helene would be bad, but who could’ve anticipated this? It is still shocking to see what has come upon our town. Streets buried. Properties damaged. Homes destroyed. Even lives lost. It stills the heart. You can’t help but sigh at it all.

We lived in a fallen world, and yes, even a fallen planet. Not only do we face the horrors of a moral evil, but the horrors of a natural evil too. Sin hasn’t just distorted our hearts, but it has severely distorted our earthly home too.

But in his mercy, God gives us these storms—to teach, to guide, to warn. Much like his Word, nature is God’s gift to show us more of who he is. How does a storm like Hurricane Helene exhort us?

To remember and to respond to:

1. God’s good providence.

I couldn’t help but think of Genesis as this storm passed over our house early Friday morning. What has the story taught us—especially Joseph’s story? That God is in total control. That he knows all things, ordains all things, controls all things.

This is a big pill to swallow when your house has been destroyed, or when you’ve lost all of your food, or you’re facing the uncertainty of the next couple of weeks. It requires great faith.

But for the Christian who resolutely believes in the goodness of God, it is a truth that provides deep comfort. To know that God is in total control. Nothing in our lives is outside of his ultimate plan for us. Nothing is in jeopardy. God has you. God is sovereign. And he lovingly rules over our lives. From the best moments to the worst, God is good, and he reigns. We can trust him.

2. God’s power.

Charles Spurgeon once told some of his church members that he would regularly go outside during thunderstorms. When asked why, he said (I’m paraphrasing), ‘So that I know what the psalmist means when he writes, The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty’ (Ps 29.3-4). It goes on to say, The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

Doesn’t that take on a whole new meaning after these 2 storms these past 13 months? We’ve seen aged oaks reveals their entire root systems. We’ve witnessed giant pines snap like twigs. The sheer power of this storm astounds us. But lest we forget: that power is the Lord’s. He is the God of the storms. He is the God of the raging seas (Ps 89.9).

He is a God to be revered, feared, and adored, a God who compels our joy and trembling (Ps 2.11).

3. God’s merciful call to repent.

Natural disasters are one of God’s merciful ways to grab humanity’s attention (see Jer 23.19). They shake our foundations. They challenge our illegitimate and false sense of autonomy. They remind us that we are not in control. They cry out to us that God is the Lord and there is no other.

And what is the proper response? Repentance. God gives us dangerous storms—that even end lives—so that we might take serious stock of our lives, which fade like the summer flower.

God has given our town this storm to that sinners might turn away from their idols and turn to the living God (1 Thess 1.9-10). While the hardened heart may accuse God for his wrath, the softened heart will praise him for his mercy. We all deserve a judgment much, much worse than Helene bought us. Without Christ, that judgment will most certainly come. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

4. Our contentment in Christ.

‘It’s just a house.’ ‘It’s just stuff.’ ‘This world is passing away.’ This is what some of you have said in the wake of this storm’s disaster in your life. For some, you’ve lost your home. For others, you have months of work ahead of you. And yet, your heart wells up with gratitude and joy. Why? Because you have Christ—and he is truly enough.

Of course, it’s not that a demolished fence, fallen pine, or powerless home are unimportant. They are. We have to attend to them. We have to respond to the needs in front of us (see below). But before any of that—above it, underneath it, sustaining it—is the joy that our salvation brings. We have a steadfast hope that cannot be shaken.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil 4.12-13; remember 1 Thess 5.16-18).

Not often does a middle-class American say that he has truly been brought low, faced hunger or need. But in every circumstance, the believer is content. God has given us this storm to strip our affections away from the world, and to our Savior. God has given us this storm so that we might not set our minds on earthly things, but on things above. Which leads to…

5. Our longing for heaven.

Our contentment in Christ takes nothing away from our heart’s desire to see this kind of destruction disappear. These are the kinds of situations that leave the Christian heart sighing, Maranatha. ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’

When I hear of a 3-yr old boy dying, I grieve. When I hear of elderly folks trapped, I grieve. When I hear of mass flooding in the Carolinas, I grieve. We all do. We’re broken by this broken world. And it makes us hunger for heaven. This world doesn’t have what we need. Remember: this world is cursed. Why love what God has cursed. Instead, let us long to be with Christ.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be,
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!

6. Our call to serve one another and love our neighbor.

But until that day comes, we press on in this world. We call one another to see who needs help with their house. We pour over the membership directory to see who we can serve. Knowing that the end is near, we keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. [We] show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another (1 Pet 4.7-10).

Church, let’s help one another. Clear yards. Cook meals. Offer showers. Pray. Encourage. Edify. Let us love one another, for this is how the world will know that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13.34-35).

And as we love one another, let us love our neighbors—quite literally. Go across the street. Knock on the door. Find those who need help. Serve without expecting anything in return. Go to bed with weary hands and a full heart. Imitate Christ! And then, preach his good news.

—

Please know how much we love you. Your elders and deacons are praying for you. We want to help. If you need any kind of assistance, please let us know. We’d love to serve you. This is our joy as members together.

Logistics

Hopefully, you received our text message earlier this evening. Unfortunately, we cannot meet for gathered worship tomorrow, due to our location and the ‘mess’ in that area. Continue to pray for those effected.

Feel free to join another sister congregation tomorrow, as we await what’s next for our church body. A couple options, if you’re asking:

• Perimeter Road Baptist Church, parking lot, 9am

• Cross Pointe Church, lobby, 10am

Lord willing, we’ll gather again next week! Until then, let’s encourage one another!

Your brother,

Pastor Josh P, alongside my fellow brother-elders