When Floodwaters Come

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Posted by Erin Roberson, October 2, 2024

For the past several months, my husband and I have been living temporarily in a small cabin on property owned by friends. Cabin living has been an adventure for many reasons, but we recently had a harrowing experience. The cabin sits on a flood plain with trees all around. There’s one especially large (and very old) tree directly in front. During storms, the heavy rain makes a deafening sound on the tin roof, and heavy winds cause large limbs to fall from the old tree. Minor flooding is common due to the creek that runs right behind the cabin. 

We all remember (and many will not soon forget) Hurricane Helene. The massive storm ripped through a large area of the Southeast causing widespread destruction and death. I am going to share my own experience with Helene, but please know that I realize my ordeal does not compare to the extreme devastation experienced by others. My purpose in writing is to pass along an important teaching that the Holy Spirit brought to mind!

Knowing the dangers of riding out a hurricane in our little cabin, we prepared for the coming storm. We put our clothes and important papers in large plastic tubs, just in case the roof blew off or the big tree fell onto the cabin. We emptied the bottom cabinets in case of flooding.

The storm came through our area on Thursday, September 27. We spent the night at the main house, because it sits on higher ground and is much more sturdy than the little cabin.

On Friday morning, we were grateful to have come through the storm unscathed. When we returned to the cabin, we could tell that the electricity had been off, but there was no damage to the structure.  Although the work day had been canceled for both of us, we decided to go to our offices and get caught up on some work.

When I arrived back at the cabin several hours later, I was surprised to see that the road leading to the main house was covered with water. Water was rising toward the cabin as well, but I didn’t think much about it. I started to feel a little anxious when the water kept rising. After an hour or so, I heard the toilet making a gurgling noise, which couldn’t be good!

The water kept coming and coming, getting closer to our little cabin home. We decided it was time to evacuate when we jumped up and down on the porch and water came up between the boards!  We spent the night in a hotel and prayed that water would not enter the cabin. 

When we returned the next morning, we could see that water had been right up to the door of the cabin, but it had not come inside. Thankfully, the water level had crested and was starting to go down. It was another 18 hours before we had a working toilet, but we had escaped the damaging floodwaters. As we celebrated our own “near miss,” our hearts were saddened by photos of severe flooding that destroyed entire towns, wiped out interstates, and tore apart homes and bridges.

The flooding caused by Hurricane Helene made me think about an emotion that tends to flood our minds - worry. We all have times in our lives when worry threatens to overtake us, invading our minds like polluted, dangerous floodwaters and damaging our lives. Sometimes worry comes like a flash flood, crashing in unexpectedly. Sometimes worry creeps in slowly, building and building. We can see it coming, but we can’t stop it.

Worry is different from concern. Concern motivates us to do something to solve problems or plan helpful ways to cope with them, but worry keeps us stuck on problems and distracts us from helpful ways of dealing with them.

As believers, we can hand over our anxious thoughts to God and trust Him to take care of us. Although we know this truth, many of us fight a daily battle to keep worry at bay! As human beings, we have a natural tendency to worry (and sometimes it is with good reason); however, constant worry can cause sleeplessness, gastrointestinal problems, and other negative health conditions.

When you feel the floodwaters of worry coming closer and threatening to engulf you, remember that God is in control of everything. He loves you, and He will be with you through any situation.

Jesus showed us how to handle the most difficult trials of life. The night before He died, he surrendered His future to the Father. He said, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39). He trusted his Father to handle the situation perfectly. It didn’t mean the path would be easy or free from suffering. Jesus trusted God to be with him through the suffering and to carry out a good plan. 

Rather than focusing on the floodwaters of worry around us, we can focus on God’s Word. 

It’s easy to think about the “what ifs” when life gets overwhelming, so meditate on verses like these instead:

Deuteronomy 31:8 - The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Psalm 18:30 - As for God, His way is perfect; the LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Isaiah 44:8 - Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.

Matthew 6:34 - Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33 - I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!

As soon as you recognize that damaging worrisome thoughts are flooding in, make a conscious choice to replace those anxious thoughts with God’s truth and invite God to take over the situation that is causing worry. 

Prayer is a powerful weapon! 

Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and take worrisome thoughts captive (see 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 12:2). It might help to write out some affirmation statements based on God’s Word to continue to reinforce the truth of God’s Word in your heart.

We are very thankful that Hurricane Helene resulted in only minor inconveniences for us, and we are in prayer for the many people who continue to deal with the horrific aftermath of the storm.  

One thing I know for sure - even if the cabin had been destroyed by Hurricane Helene, God would have been with us, and He would have continued to provide.  

When the storms of worry come your way, you can trust that God cares about you and will carry through!

Erin Roberson is a wife and mother of two wonderful grown boys. She is a lifelong educator who loves learning and teaching others. She believes our primary focus should be on our relationship with God, learning who God is, who God says we are, and how God wants us to live.