By: Marcy Barthelette
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night…. Psalm 91:5a
It was just after midnight on Thursday night, and I’d settled in for a good night’s sleep when a loud bang pierced the silence, and I realized someone in the neighborhood was shooting off fireworks. I also noticed a vibrating sensation, not uncommon by day because lots of vehicles pass through the neighborhood during daylight hours blasting radios much louder than needed. But in the middle of the night! Really? I looked out my window and witnessed a large party just getting started two houses down the street.
It’s legal in our little town to shoot fireworks on July Fourth only, so by starting just after midnight, they were technically within the law. I finally gave up griping and complaining and found something calming to stream on my tablet, thinking they would settle down soon. At two forty-five AM, I decided I had to try and sleep. I shut down my tablet and snuggled down into bed, only to hear another loud bang. Thankfully, I finally fell asleep sometime shortly after three.
As we slept, hundreds of miles away, in the beautiful hill country of Texas, the Guadeloupe River, typically an idyllic place for water recreation, raged through the town of Kerrville and the surrounding area with a rise of more than twenty feet in less than an hour. We woke to learn that many lives were lost that early morning, and, as I write, a number of people are still missing. The loss of life has been staggering; many were just children, enjoying a week at summer camp. I was quickly reminded that my earlier concerns had been merely a bump in the road.
Some events in this life, like inconsiderate neighbors, have a seemingly major impact for a short while, but the memory quickly dims. Others, however, leave a damaging footprint that affects families for as long as they live. Families devastated by this flood have yet to find rest, and they will never forget what happened in the dark, wee hours of July Fourth, 2025.
I can’t imagine the terror felt by someone caught up in the violence of raging water, nor the grief so many parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses, and others are experiencing as they grapple with the awful truth of what flash flooding can accomplish. Ken and I have lived alongside rivers that were heavily prone toward flash flooding. We know how fast they can rise and have seen the devastation that can occur in just minutes. We’ve been involved in evacuations and search and recovery missions. It’s not an easy thing, and it’s one of those times when your mind wanders to questions about why God would allow something so heinous to happen. We’ll never have those answers this side of heaven, but we do know He promised to be with us in times of trouble and sorrow.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
God is a constant presence in the lives of His children. He is there to shelter and protect each individual who is hurting today as a result of a loss caused by those flood waters. We can’t bring the lost back to them, but we can pray that they will seek the shelter of the Almighty in their grief.
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. Psalm 91:15
Lord, Jesus, may every person experiencing a loss in this recent flash flooding feel the touch of your hand as they travel a road they never wanted to explore. May they find your peace and comfort in the days, weeks, and months ahead. May they lay their doubts and anger at your feet. May they accept your strength in their weakness. Help them to allow their good memories to overcome the bad. And please let them know they will never, ever be alone. It is in your precious name I pray. Amen.
