Fortified, Strengthened, Encouraged and Enabled In A Flood: A Test In Endurance

It was the first day of October 2023. Family and friends checked on each other. They exchanged greetings, prayers, and best wishes. They looked forward to counting and enjoying their blessings in the month.

A couple of days later, some, suddenly, had no homes.

The images were fuzzy. Eyes blinded by flood waters couldn’t accurately perceive the damage.

Minds filled with dismay couldn’t comprehend the sudden destruction.

Folks can’t walk home. They can’t step in. There are no doors. There are no windows.

The path home is now a canal. They swim. They sit in canoes and watch what used to be their homes from a distance. There are no longer homes; there are buildings, with a new tenant, water!

They say keep your head above water, but these heads are buried under the water….

The flood overwhelmed our best rescuers.
It evicted folks from their homes.
It ate their livelihoods.
It took over the playground.
It’s bringing a deluge of heartaches and leaving behind heartwrenching memories….

How do you cry under water?
Who will see the eyes flooded with tears?
How do you ask for help when you are buried in the bulging belly of a ruthless flood?

Who do you call?

Call someone, somehow.
Family. Neighbours. Friends. Colleagues. Even strangers.

And call God!

“Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things….” Let’s call Him.

Tell Him!
The One who “reigns in grace, from the river to the ends of the world….”
“The builder of all things.”
The one “Who calls for the waters… and pours them out upon the surface of the earth.” Let’s tell Him.

We’ve seen beautiful shades of grace and mercy from those who heed the call.
We even saw Human in humanitarianism. She’s here, tending to humanity in stress. These are her people, too!

Truckloads of generosity.
Trailerloads of soothing balms.
Pockets full of kindness.
Mouthfuls of encouragement.
Shoulders lifting communities.
Long arms of warmth.
Opened hearts of care.
Lips with words of comfort.

Some eyes can see tears in a storm.
Some ears can hear cries from the bottom of the water….
Some shoulders can bear loads for the weary. Some legs can wade through the flood to help.
Some hands can wipe a tear.
Some faces can bring a smile to a flood.

Ask them how things are going? You’ll hear their gratitude and fortitude. No tears! They say, “The house is gone, BUT we have life,” “Things are better,” We are well,” “This, too, shall pass,” and many uplifting psalms.

We see pain and destruction. They see pain and destruction, too, but they see other things that we don’t see.

From these, we glean hope.
From these, we build endurance.

The days are with great troubles, but we can’t lose infinite hope.
Neck-deep in water, and they remain hopeful, enabled, and encouraged.
There is still a very long and tough way to go. There are many muddy waters to cross. Still, they are marching on in hope, with hope. They are hopeful.

On the anvil of their fortified hope, I forged my hope. I am hopeful.

This is our cross. Let’s bear it.
A thorn in our flesh.
It must not destroy us.
It must “buffet” us.
It must make us better…

God knows we’re scared of darkness. That is why He “gives songs in the night.” That way, we will have songs to sing, and remain watchful until His sun rises to shine again, to burn the flood waters dry, and to lead us through the floods of distress and pain to dry lands, and abodes of peace and comfort.

The distress may persist, but only for a while. The will to live and hope must never diminish.

Be strong. Be hopeful. Steel your endurance, whatever flood comes into your life.

May the victims of the Volta Lake flood be in your thoughts.

Happy November !!

Stay blessed n b-right