Hurricane Irma. Facts: Category 5, 185 mph winds (some gusts clocked at over 200 mph), direct hit on Anguilla and Saint Martin/St. Maarten, two small islands in the Caribbean, on September 6th, 2017. Incredible devastation occurred – buildings collapsed, roofs were torn off, trees were uprooted, the infrastructure of the islands demolished, airplanes were overturned as if they were toys, and marinas became graveyards for rows of sinking watercraft. Add to this scene massive flooding, unsafe drinking water and dangerous power lines laying in the streets, on housing and walkways. The pictures here are recent, almost one year later.
My husband and I have visited Saint Martin almost every year since 2003. We were there two weeks before Irma hit last year and had the opportunity to visit again a few weeks ago. Although we’d been told the cleanup and rebuild has greatly improved, it is difficult to believe the amount of damage still seen. It is everywhere you look. Overturned boats slowly being pulled down into the ocean, and entire boardwalks and piers, shops and restaurants are gone, completely, in the bays. It doesn’t seem that even one structure was left unscathed. Immediately, after landing at the modified airport, which was a white event tent, the casualties were evident. I thought we were informed about what we might see because I’ve kept in touch through the internet, but nothing could have prepared me for what truly was. As we drove from the airport across the island to our destination, I was speechless at the damage around each corner, my heart was silently crying.
We settled in and began talking with those who were on the island during this tragic event.
Many people were smiling! And they wanted to talk about Jesus: His care for them and His mercy on them.
Seriously, each day of our time spent here I have had opportunities to talk about God’s mercy and the necessity to trust in Him. Several times, when I questioned how someone was doing, I was met with thankfulness that life was spared. Faces literally lit up when speaking of God’s provision for basic needs. We heard many were without water in their homes for months and were rationed drinking water. Electricity was unavailable to most homes. Roads were impassable and even if they weren’t, many cars were not drivable because trees or poles had landed on them. Stories from a worker in a grocery market of having only two bottles of water – for drinking and showering – for the entire family with three teenage boys – were shared with thankfulness for what was provided.
One woman remarked how ‘life lessons’ were learned from her oldest son who recently had complained of sharing a room with his two younger siblings. She said after the hurricane, one of her family members lost everything and moved in with them – a small two bedroom home needing to accommodate nine
people for several months. Her oldest son is now very happy to be back sharing a room with only three!
I repeatedly heard phrases like, “God works in mysterious ways”, “God can do what He wants because He owns everything”, and “We have to trust in His plan”, and “Praise God, we are okay, it’s just stuff”.
Thank you God for the resiliency of those who know You! Thank You for the amazing steadfastness of Your children. Thank you for reminding all of us what this life is truly about – the opportunity to praise You in all things and to share about Your hope in all circumstances to all people. Thank you God for the beauty of the ocean and the waves and the breeze. And for Your power seen in a hurricane.
God’s awesomeness is magnified in times of disaster as His children look to Him.
It is so easy to expect that when you turn on a faucet, clean water pours out. I can say I hardly ever think about the blessing of a flushing toilet and working sewage system (except maybe when we’ve been camping!), or flipping a switch for light, or having the availability of unspoiled food or a roof over my head. Having panes of glass in a window has become commonplace for most of us. These things are all blessings given by God’s grace. What we need is food and shelter, what most of us have is so much more!
Thank you Lord Jesus, for giving each of us what we need. Sometimes, it’s the most difficult tragedies that cause our trust to turn towards Your grace. Often, it is in the midst of personal loss that we recognize we already have everything that is important and lasting. In the midst of broken buildings and lives upturned, joy is evident in the certain hope of life eternal.
Ps 57:1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in Thee; and in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge, until destruction passes by. God is our refuge and shelter.
Da 6:27 "He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has [also] delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." The same God who delivered Daniel from the lion’s jaws will rescue His children.
Na 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. God is our fortress. God knows those who seek His protection.
Isa 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." God is our deliverance, in Him there is no fear. God is our praise!
Ps 121:1-2 I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? 2 My help [comes] from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. The One Who created heaven and earth is our help.
Isa 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' There is no reason to be dismayed. God will uphold His children.
Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God is our security, right now, this very moment, even in distress.
Strength and resolve in God’s children to trust Him even through incomprehensible tragedy. This is what I witnessed during my time in Saint Martin this year and I am so thankful. I pray we were able to leave bits of encouragement as we shared God’s truths. I personally received incredible blessings.
Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name. That He might make His power known.
