What comes after the storms?

Our little community got rocked by Hurricane Ian just over a year ago.

I still remember waiting several days to find out whether our house was still standing after the hurricane and wondering whether the whole area had gotten leveled. We were preparing ourselves for the worst but hoping for the best.

Thankfully, our house survived but it did sustain a lot of damage. We are still putting it all back together a year later but it’s starting to perk up again. Our neighborhood is slowly coming back alive as well, looking better than it was before.

During the initial storm clean-up process, a woodworker began cutting up some of the downed trees in the area and using the wood to make items like tables, bowls, cutting boards, and serving trays. The craftsmanship is beautiful but what makes them so special to me is that the material came right from the neighborhood.

The items built are very heavy due to the strength and density of the wood. It’s hard for me to imagine the intensity of the wind must have felt like that took them down. All of these magnificant old trees had been knocked down…yet they were repurposed into something even more beautiful.

We purchased a bowl and a serving tray that will be a treasured reminder in our house of the storm we went through. The fear of the unknown through the rebuild God has sustained us. He is faithful, all-powerful, and in control. God strengths, refines, and builds up.

I may not see it right away, but I know that beauty does come after the storm and I am thankful to have a few items as a visual reminder.

Questions

Are you anticipating any storms on the horizon of your life or maybe in the middle of one right now?

What is your reminder that there is beauty on the other side of the storm?

How do past difficulties give you hope in your future?

Scripture

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3