Pray for the Hill Country
I genuinely have no words. I've gone back and forth the last couple of days—what do I even say? Do I even share my thoughts and emotions with others? Will it even make sense? I don't know. But here I am.
I'm absolutely devastated by the catastrophic flooding that occurred in Kerrville, Hunt, and other surrounding areas in the Hill Country of Texas. There are no words that will bring comfort, peace, or even understanding. I've had to turn off my phone because seeing all the news on social media has been weighing heavily on my heart, as I'm sure many of you feel the same way.
There are so many lives taken, still people missing, and I can't even wrap my mind around it. I keep thinking and trying to put myself in some of these people's shoes, and I just can't—it's unfathomable.
I'm struggling even to type this now, thinking about what they experienced—trying to save their families, and dying. Thinking about the young girls at camp and then seeing the photos of the cabins. It's just too much. The many, many lives lost.
My heart is heavy. Burdened. Overwhelmed.
And I can only imagine how it feels to be part of the community and be directly affected by this. Part of my family lives in Kerrville, and I have visited them often over the last couple of years. I'm grateful they're okay, but I'm at a loss for words because many people they know are not.
Then, as if the tragedy wasn't enough, all the blame games and division that people online want to stir up. I want to say, first and foremost, that's not how we Texans do things. When something unimaginable happens, when tragedy hits, we're all there for each other, helping one another in any way we can. We don't care who you voted for. We're helping you. In these moments, we have a choice to exhibit Jesus, and that's exactly what Texans do in times like this. That's all I'll say on that.
If you're anything like me, you're wondering and trying to make sense of all of this in a nonjudgmental way.
Why?
Why did this happen?
Why did it have to happen in the early morning hours, when most people were sleeping?
Why do people have to play the blame game?
How did this happen?
How can something like this happen to innocent people?
Why, Lord… why?
The list could go on and on.
Something that keeps coming to me is the word understanding—or rather, the lack thereof. We will never know why God allows such things to happen. In these difficult times, I'm reminded that I don't need to understand. But I do need to sit and weep with those who are grieving. I need to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on Earth.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." — Proverbs 3:5
I'm not trying to make sense of this tragedy, as much as I know most of us would like to. I'm reminded that our Lord wants us to turn to Him, to love, follow, and trust Him, and to point others to Him. That is our purpose here on Earth if we call ourselves Christians.
Don't turn away from God during this time. Draw near to Him. He can handle your anger, your grief, your questions, your yelling, your sorrow.
He is with you. He loves you. He sees you.
"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:17 18
I hate that something like this has to happen for us to be reminded of what actually matters in this world. It's not what society keeps telling us matters. It's about loving Jesus and loving others well. To be grateful for what we have while we still have it and for the people we get to love, while they're still here.
This awful catastrophe has made me long for heaven even more than I already do. Where there is no brokenness. Where healing takes place, and it's perfect and filled with joy. Where we get to meet our Creator and be embraced in His arms. But, if you have breath in your lungs, we’re still here on Earth for a reason, don’t take it for granted.
We're hurting, grieving, and broken by what has happened in Kerrville and the surrounding areas. Please continue to pray for them in the days, months, and years to come. This community will never be the same. It feels wrong that the world keeps moving when so many lives have been turned upside down in an instant.
I'm reminded of God's sovereignty and how I can trust in Him, how I can still have hope, even when disaster comes out of nowhere. My hope isn't in circumstances, but in the One who holds the circumstances—the One who knows all things, who made me and loves me.
I'll leave you with this verse:
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." — Lamentations 3:21–23
If you're like me at times, you don't know what or how to pray in times like this. Here is a prayer you can say:
"Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness, for who You are, and that I can trust You. I ask that your comfort, peace, compassion, love, and strength fall upon every person directly affected by the catastrophic floods in Kerrville, Hunt, and the surrounding areas. Cover your people, Lord.
I lift the parents whose baby girls aren't coming home. I pray for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who are still missing, that each one is found. I ask that you bring your peace, God, the kind that surpasses all understanding, to every grieving heart.
Go before, with, and behind each person walking through this devastation. Please keep the first responders safe and help them find every missing person. I pray for the volunteers who are working tirelessly to help.
God, you never promised a perfect world. We live in a broken one, where tragedies like this occur. But I ask that You cover every heart and mind wrestling with questions, wondering if You are real, and if You are still good. Let them know they can bring their hurt, anger, depression, and grief to you. I lift their hearts to You, Lord. Amen."
If you haven't accepted Jesus, please reach out to someone who knows and loves Him. Someone who can help you begin your walk with Jesus. It's as simple as professing that He is Lord, surrendering your life to Him, acknowledging that you are a sinner, and believing He died for you and rose again to defeat death.
