When You Pass Through the Waters....

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
I will be with you
when you pass through the waters,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,
and the flame will not burn you."
Isaiah 43:1b-2 (HCSB)

Do you ever feel like you are passing through the waters... or being swept away by them? I have to admit to being in that state on Tuesday when three inches of rain swept across our area in a very short amount of time. Fifteen minutes after the rain began my husband and I went downstairs to check on the status of our basement, only to find water pouring in from the window wells.

We used two shop vacs. One no sooner filled and my husband went to empty it before I had the next one filled as well. It was the worst flood we've ever experienced in our home. Two rooms were completely flooded. One room has linoleum and the other has a very thin carpet. Since the carpet is put down right on top of cement, we should be able to salvage it.

After hours of moving things out of harm's way, sucking up water, and trying to dry things out, we were exhausted. Now we're handling the aftermath... dealing with everything that had to be moved, etc. Tuesday I felt numb.... I didn't even have words. Yesterday I felt overwhelmed by the task before us of downsizing so that if/when this happens again, it won't be such a struggle to deal with in the future.

I couldn't help but think of a future scene in the novel I'm working on. It's a scene that will depict what was the worst flood my town experienced. This is the bridge that I'll be writing about.

Through all the struggles I face in this life I take comfort in the first section of the scripture above:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
I will be with you."
 
What storms have you been going through lately? How can I pray for you?