Thankful Thru The Chaos

A massive EF-4 tornado left death and destruction across portions of Alabama and Georgia last week. Hardest hit was Lee County, Alabama with 23 fatalities. One family lost 7 family members.

As a meteorologist studying weather patterns and forecast models, seeing the devastation from these storms cut like a knife every time. My family went through our own version of this in 2001 when our neighborhood was struck by an EF-4 tornado. It completely changed my perspective on covering severe weather, but it also made me more sensitive to the experiences faced in the aftermath.

In looking over the photos and path of the Lee County tornado, I came across video of Ernestine Reese. Just 20 minutes after her home was obliterated from the tornado, someone helped her FaceTime with relatives to let them know she was alive after being pulled from the debris. She suffered a broken hip, has since had surgery and recovering. But before leaving for the hospital, she told her relatives on the FaceTime, "I thank the Lord." She goes on to tell them, "Tell God 'thank ya'. Tell God 'thank ya'!" Ernestine said it with such enthusiasm, excitement, and gave a hardy belly laugh!

Ernestine Reese talks to her relatives via FaceTime while someone holds the iPhone for her.

When life is good, it's a breeze to tell God 'thank ya'. And while we may claim to praise Him even if we were to lose it all, we really don't know how much praising we'd do until we've lost everything we've gained. Lose your job and the security it gave, lose your home you've spent years saving for and making a home for your family, lose your reputation, or lose a loved one to a health crisis--Would you still praise God? Oh friend, it's so easy to say what you would do "if" that day came, but the only way to know what we would do is to have it happen. 

I've been there. I know.

Psalm 9:10 says, "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." Those who trust in God's provision and in His sovereignty can praise Him through the chaos that comes. Even though Ernestine lost her home, her hard earned possessions and was injured, her faith was strong enough that she could declare a "thank ya" to God.

Sometimes God's blessings are not in what He gives; but in what He takes away. Holding on to something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don't have something better.