Before I begin, I just want to give an encouraging word to those in the path of Hurricane Dorian. We Floridians are a bit used to having hurricanes, but once it reaches a certain level, we tend to get nervous. The strong winds and rain that the storm brings make us fear for our homes and our loved ones. Keep your faith in the Lord. He will protect you and keep you safe.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

            Something that I’ve been thinking about since the beginning of this week is how God has control. To some maybe that sounds intimidating to think that someone else has control over your life. However, think of it this way. God sees all and knows all. We, on the other hand, have limited knowledge. It is because of that that I find comfort in Him taking the wheel in my life. He knows where I’m headed before I get there and He wants to give me the best. So, why do most of us fight for control over our own lives?

            In all honesty, I could never blame someone who fears to let anyone but themselves control their lives. I too fought for control. It is scary not being able to control all aspects of your life. I came to realize that the more I fought, the more out of control I felt. I had to learn and train myself to let go of control. This became easier and easier the closer I got to Him.

            Recently, my family and I had made plans to celebrate my brother’s birthday. The original plans were to celebrate this past weekend, August 24^th and 25^th. As the date got closer, different circumstances came up and we had to reschedule the party to the next weekend, August 31^st and September 1^st. On the 23^rd, my mom called and said that the reasons for having to reschedule were no longer an issue and asked if my husband and I could still go visit. My husband and I drove to where they lived and had an amazing weekend.

            It wasn’t until Tuesday that I had heard about hurricane Dorian. Immediately, I saw God’s love. He knew how badly my family and I wanted to see each other to celebrate my brother’s birthday. He had control over the circumstances that were preventing us from celebrating together. He made it so that we could spend an amazing time together, knowing the storm that was ahead. In this case, it was a literal storm. His love is great and He is good.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” – Psalm 34:8

            I know that life can be scary at times. Whether you are facing mental storms, financial storms, or maybe even literal storms…it can be hard to keep from being afraid. I can honestly say that once I saw hurricane Dorian forecasted to reach a category 4, I got a bit fearful myself. I thought about my home, my family, my friends. However, as soon as I felt the fear creeping in, I hear a calming voice in the back of my head reminded me of this.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

Therefore, no matter what you are facing, remember that God has control. He will never lead you astray. He loves you. Trust in Him and all that fear and doubt will go away. Again, for those of you in the path of the storm, know that He is with you in all circumstances. He will guard you against all harm and keep you safe.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9