The images coming out of the Houston area continue to communicate massive devastation and evacuation chaos. Join me in praying for the leaders whose desks are overflowing with decisions that need to be made, for emergency personnel who are trying to get help to those that need it the most, and for the people who have lost much of their material possessions.
I’ve found myself drawn to Psalm 93 to help guide my praying and processing. It’s a flood-waters psalm.
Psalm 93:3
The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Seas and water throughout the Old Testament represent chaos & uncertainty. Three times the psalmist declares that the waves of chaos are pounding away—life has taken an unexpected turn, circumstances have turned overwhelmingly difficult, everything feels as if it’s been “turned upside down”—your own personal Hurricane Harvey.
Psalm 93:4
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty.
The sea of chaos may be relentless but the psalmist has found an anchor, “the Lord on high is mighty”. A three-fold declaration that mirrors verse 3. He’s not denying current reality, he’s simply setting it in a larger framework. Which is why the psalm opens with…
Psalm 93:1-2
The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
Yahweh Malak (the Lord reigns), in this case it’s an anthem being sung in the middle of the flood. When the waves of chaos are crashing in, when the waterline of uncertainty is rising—Yahweh Malak. When we feel like we’re watching our life float away—Yahweh Malak. When we have no idea how we’re going to get through what we’re going through—Yahweh Malak. We don’t wait for the ground to dry up, we declare it in the middle of the mess.
Houston, we’re praying with you and for you.
If you’d like to help the recovery efforts then you can donate through the Christian & Missionary Alliance, they have a disaster relief fund setup HERE.
