By Doug Creamer

Most of you know that I am a weather fanatic. I am watching storms days before weathermen on TV mention them. I watch the long-term models and keep track of current developments. My parents thought that I might pursue becoming a meteorologist, but for me it is more of an obsession.

I was watching Helene when it was just a cluster of thunderstorms down in the Caribbean. I was amazed at how consistent models were with the path of the storm and how the storm followed the predicted path. Very few storms show such consistency between model runs and between the various models.

The suffering that people are enduring from this storm is unimaginable. They desperately need more than our prayers. People need physical assistance to help them recover. The recovery effort will take months. For some roads and many bridges it could take years. The mental and emotional anguish the victims are experiencing is incomprehensible.

The damage from this one storm runs through multiple states. Helene is not a name that many people will soon forget. Some of my readers have suffered from this storm, whether it was the loss of power or trees down in your yard. We all probably know people who are going through some very rough times right now.

I woke up Friday morning to the strongest winds and the heaviest rains. I watched out my windows as the storm raged. In the end, we had standing water in our yard and the cable and internet were out. We were among the lucky ones. The lack of news and internet kept us unaware of the devastation that others were enduring.

When our services returned, we were stunned by the pictures and videos of all the damage in the mountains, especially in the Asheville area. I reached out to family and friends and was relieved to know that while they may be struggling, they are OK. The images I have seen have kept me praying late at night and very early in the morning.

While those who suffered the huge losses need to be a priority in our prayers, we also need to remember to pray for the frontline workers, utility workers, rescue workers, emergency and firefighter workers, and now the organizations who going in to offer aid and support. Pray for the supply chains to get resources into these hard hit communities. People need the basics of life. They also need a loving and caring shoulder to cry on.

If you are planning to offer help, please research and make sure you are supporting reputable organizations. Sadly, there will be many scammers out there trying to take advantage of people who are already suffering. There are many ways you can help people you have never met through churches and other aid organizations who are on the ground helping in practical ways. Don’t forget that there may be neighbors or people in your own community who are also suffering and in need of your help.

The people who are suffering right now need faith, hope and love. Jesus is broken-hearted over the loss, pain and suffering of the people who have been affected by this storm. This is an opportunity for the church to rise up and show those who have been affected that God cares deeply about what they are experiencing. We get to be His hands, feet and mouth to the broken and wounded. We need to bring the light of hope to their dark world. We need to let them know that they are loved by coming alongside them in their hour of need. They need an impartation of our faith that will help them endure and make it through this tragedy.

I want to encourage you to do your part, whether it is prayer, buying and sending supplies, donating money or finding another way to help show the love of God to those in need. Helping a neighbor in need is just as important as sending aid to an unknown victim. Listening to someone’s story and offering words of love, compassion and encouragement can be just as valuable as sending aid. Both can change the life of another person and demonstrate to them that they are not alone in their hour of deepest need. Many people who are suffering wonder, “Where is God in the midst of my suffering?” The answer can be in the eyes of His people. We have the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love by both our words and actions. Be light in the darkness. Show love through your deeds. Share your faith and hope. Be the church. Pray!

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or doug@dougcreamer.com.