(Written a few days after the horrific flood, July 4, 2025)
Dear Reader,
There are no quick words for this kind of grief.
We watched flood waters swallow roads, homes, histories.
The earth is soaked with sorrow, and so are we.
But Jesus is not distant.
Deeply sorrowful that they were missing the truth, Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
He stood at the tomb of Lazarus and wept for his friend –
In Gethsamene, Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow.
He, Himself, is the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with suffering
Our High Priest, not untouched by our pain
He sits with every soaked pillow, every aching loss, and weeps again.
So we pray.
Lord Jesus,
You see the mud-caked shoes,
The ruined photographs,
The trembling hands holding broken memories.
You see the aching, the disbelief, the fragile hope, now broken.
Be near, Lord.
Walk with the weary through the floodwaters.
Still the storm in their hearts-
Be their shelter and their song.
In their deep pain and sorrow, lift their heads.
When sleep is silent, unwilling, unraveling –
Be the peace that passes understanding.
Be near, Lord.
And for those who have lost more than stuff-
Those grieving lives that cannot be replaced
Be the resurrection and the life.
Sit with them in the ashes.
Mourn with those who mourn.
Be near, Lord.
Your steadfast love never ceases.
Your mercies never end –
They are renewed day by day.
Great is Your faithfulness.
We trust Your heart even when we can’t see your hand – yet –
Give courage to responders, wisdom to leaders, comfort to the displaced.
Let Your church be a people of towels and tears,
Showing up with casseroles and crowbars, love and lumber.
May we love like You, serve like You –
Simply for Your glory.
Amen.
