A Prayer On the Eve Before Milton

Dear Father,

It is 9:57 pm ET on October 8, 2024. A Category 5 hurricane named Milton is expected to slam into the Gulf Coast of Florida within the next 24 hours. There are buildings that are standing on their foundation tonight that will be gone this time tomorrow. There are businesses that are secure tonight that will be destroyed when the blue skies return. Most importantly, there are people who are alive and scurrying for protection this very hour who will be standing before Your throne before Friday.

It is so easy to question Your goodness in times like this. Hundreds of people in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee just died within the last two weeks because of the raging flood waters of Hurricane Helene. The survivors are not only suffering with grief but they are also dealing with devastation and total despair. Good hearted people are already exhausting themselves caring for the victims of a natural disaster that would still be fresh in the news if it wasn’t for Hurricane Milton stepping in front of the camera.

And yet…You have apparently ordained more suffering. We know Your hand could steer this hurricane away from landfall. Your voice could calm the wind and the waves as quickly as the voice of Your Son calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Your own hand could block the storm surge from enveloping the central portion of Florida. Yet, here comes the storm and millions of lives will be impacted.

All of the theologians in the world cannot answer the “why” question. Your Word does not grant us the right to know why You do things. The only thing we are told to do is to persevere in the belief that You are always good no matter the circumstance. You are good when a loved one dies. You are good when we have a disabling disease. You are good when we lose our job. You are good when we are victimized by abusers. You are good when our spouse commits adultery against us. You are good when our houses burn down. You are good when our cars are totaled in an accident. You are good when our prayers aren’t answered. You are good when the earth quakes, the tornado roars across the farmland, and when the storm surge crashes into our homes.

Father, You do amazing things when tragedy strikes. You take some people’s lives instantly so they will not suffer. You bring some believers into Your glorious presence where they will never suffer again. You rescue others by sending a wooden fence post a drift within their reach as the current takes them to the new shoreline in the parking lot of a grocery store. Some homes and businesses will miraculously be left standing by Your favor. You bring trucks and helping hands of relief from believers in Jesus Christ from across America. Long estranged sisters hug and forgive after both surviving the disaster.

Father, on the heels of this hurricane You have already lined up millions of future testimonies just waiting to be experienced. The lessons to be learned about Your love are already tagged with the people’s names on each one of those spiritual gifts. We will hear amazing stories of Your deliverance, healing, restoration, renewal, grace, mercy, compassion, kindness, and generosity from those in the South who will encounter You this week and in the months to come.

Yes – tragedy is horrific. We live in a world that is broken because we, the human race, have rebelled against You. We disobey Your laws and commands. We ignore You and even deny Your existence. We dare to think that we can be our own gods, managing our lives as we see fit. Such a people do not deserve paradise or a heaven on earth. Yes, Father, this world is broken because we deserve it. Hurricanes happen because the earth has been corrupted by mankind.

Yet, through faith in Jesus Christ, we know that all of our sin and rebellion can be forgiven and erased from our record. Though our life comes to an end in a violent storm, we will experience paradise on the other side of the grave because Jesus has forgiven us of our sin. We stand before Him holy and righteous, as if we had never sinned at all. Yes, Father, that will be the world will there will be no more death, disabling disease, job losses, abusers, unfaithful spouses, houses burning down, cars crushed, earthquakes, tornados, or hurricanes.

That is our hope tonight. That is our joy. Though the dark clouds coming across the sea are frightening, we know where we will end up when You call us home. Jesus of Nazareth is our Father and He never leaves us. He will carry us safely into His arms in this storm, in the next, or in the storm to come twenty years from now.

Father, pour out Your mercy on those who are in the path of Milton. Save lives from death so that they can yet receive Christ as their savior. Teach thousands upon thousands of people to fear You and be humble before You so that their eyes will be opened to Your saving grace. Teach people that they are not in control of their lives like they thought they were so that they cry out to You for forgiveness. Save church buildings. Save businesses run by those who have placed their faith in You. Father, give believers across America many reasons to thank You for the ways You answer millions of prayers this very hour asking You to be merciful to just as many people.

Amen

Photo Credit: A satellite image shows whirlwind formation of Hurricane Milton, October 7. CSU/CIRA & NOAA/Handout via REUTERS