Copyright 2005 Kathryn WilliamsonThe initial disaster is over. But chaos remains. Many lives
were lost. Perhaps you lost loved ones or still don?t know
whether they are still alive.
Everything was destroyed?your housing, clothes, all your
valued possessions, automobiles, jobs, your friends are
scattered, and most importantly your dreams were shattered.
Emotions are running wild inside you and everyone around
you. Questions go unanswered. Not only about what happened,
but where do you go from here?
Can you rebuild your old life? Unfortunately, no. Can you
build a new life? Yes! Will it be easy? No. Will it be
worth it? Yes!
Where do you find the strength to move forward? God will
give you strength in your time of need. You have a lot of
major decisions to sort through in the next few months and
God will give you discernment on what to do.
When you feel like everyone has failed you, you can always
turn to God for help.
"I?m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He?s all
I?ve got left. GOD proves to be good to the man who
passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It?s
a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from
GOD." Lamentations 3:24-26 (The Message)
During this time of unrest you may find yourself putting
your hope into various things?the government, people who
have reached out to help you or your own abilities. But the
solid, unchangeable hope of God is what will sustain you in
the long haul.
The mind-set of instant change and instant gratification
that is so prominent in Americans must be discarded to
avoid needless stress and anxiety in the months ahead.
Change will come, but probably not at the fast pace you
desire.
So how do you remain patient during this time? By realizing
that just as it took you so many years to get to where you
were before the disaster hit, it will take time to build
your new life. A better life.
Knowing a couple of things ahead of time will help you
through this process of building your life. First, there is
grief to deal with. Grief over the loss of loved ones, over
the loss of your possessions, your job, your status in
life, over the separation from friends and familiar
surroundings, and even your place of worship.
However, grief does not have to consume you. Yes, it will
take time to go through the grieving process, but it does
not have to ruin your life to the point that you cannot
function at a normal level.
Second, reaching out and loving others will help you build
your life quicker. It will help you be able to handle
everything you are dealing with. Love never fails to
provide an answer to what you are going through (1
Corinthians 13:8). When you find yourself arguing with
someone over some stupid little thing, decide to stop the
argument and begin showing love to that person or family.
God always gives you His peace when you do this.
Third, your attitudes will carry you a long way. They will
set you up for success or failure. This is discussed in
more detail later in this book. But for right now, know
that with God all things are possible! Nothing is too hard
for Him.
Fourth, maintaining peace in your heart keeps problems from
developing or getting worse. God?s peace is available to us:
"Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give {and}
bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be
afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and
disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and
intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" John 14:27
(Amplified)
The Bible tells us that when the Holy Spirit (Who lives
inside Christians) controls our mind, there is life and
peace. And that life is given to us by the Word of God (the
Bible). So if you find yourself seeking peace, begin
reading the Bible. If you don?t have one, ask for one or
borrow one. You might begin with the Book of Psalms as it
describes people in trials and their heartfelt cries to God
and God?s faithful response to them. God is the same
yesterday, today and tomorrow. The comfort and guidance He
provided His people throughout history He will also provide
for you.
The outcome of the new life you build depends upon the
choices you make right now. You can either become bitter or
better. God?s ways are always to forgive, restore
relation-ships, and move on with your life. If you are
surrounded by people who only see the negative and continue
to stir up strife, it is best to withdraw from their
company.
Many will question whether this catastrophe was brought on
by God. In this Age God acts out of love, not judgment. I
can tell you with complete confidence that God loves you.
He knows the hurt and heartache you are going through. He
wants to comfort you, to guide you, to help you build a
better life.
God created you for a specific purpose. You have a mission
in life. God wants to reveal His vision for your life and
help you accomplish it. This is discussed later on in this
book. Right now He wants to give you hope for a better
life. A life filled with His love, peace, and purpose.
Remember, nothing is impossible for God.
(This article was taken from chapter 1 of the booklet "How
To Build A New Life" by Kathryn Williamson, written for
victims of Katrina. See the website listed below for
further details.)
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Kathy Williamson teaches biblical principles to help people
overcome their problems and discover God's will for their
lives. Her books, teachings and ezine can be found on her
website at http://www.wisdomforliving.org
