Our family has been through some destructive storms, experiencing trauma, loss, and gratitude for life all at the same time. Because of our past experiences, whenever we hear of areas where natural disasters or other devastating events are taking place, we reach out to check on friends, family, and professional colleagues living in these areas.
In hearing of others, we're especially reminded of what it was like when our family was hit by the epic 1993 “No Name Storm of the Century,” which devastated our home with its impact. Afterward, we hardly heard from anyone outside the local area. Although friends from our local church and community reached out to us, we didn’t really hear from family and friends living further away.
Admittedly, we missed people personally reaching out to us after the storm. Possibly by the time they heard what had happened, they considered it old news and too late to respond.
Before social media, it wasn’t as easy to keep in touch and up-to-date with what events were occurring in everyone’s lives or to even know what weather and natural disasters were taking place in real-time in other parts of the nation. Naturally, reaching out to others when disaster hit often seemed past due when finally hearing the news.
Even though we thought we would be contacted by more friends, family, and professional colleagues checking on our well-being and offering comfort, we also understood that most probably didn’t know what we were going through. Thankfully, during the storm, we held on to what Jesus teaches in Luke 18:1: to always pray and not give up.
When others seem distant, quiet, and far away, we can count on God to be near, caring, and hearing our distress. Psalm 18:6 says, “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.”
Nowadays, rather than reach out personally to people in distress, our culture overall has been conditioned and trained to rely on and give to organizations that will encourage, comfort, and take care of others. Reaching out personally often takes more time and effort than most people have to offer.
Although there are excellent Christian organizations we can donate to and volunteer with to reach out and help those in great times of need, we also don’t want to forgo reaching out in more personal ways with those we know one-on-one during these difficult situations.
As well, many think it’s the government’s role to help and be there for people during disasters, depending on relief organizations to help during devastating events, believing people are being taken care of and don’t need the additional support or word of encouragement.
If individuals haven’t personally experienced the wrath and aftermath of a natural disaster or devastating event, they may not understand how much their reaching out—just letting people know they care and are praying for them—means to those who are shaken up and feeling numb from the trauma involved.
My own parents, when called in the middle of our being stranded by the "No Name” storm and asked to pray for us, didn’t seem to grasp what our family was experiencing in the midst of the tornadoes, winds, and rising water. Focused on a party they were on their way to attend, they were distracted and ended our call to leave for their event.
We realized and understood later that they didn’t understand the urgency of what we were facing. Nevertheless, it felt crushing to reach out and ask for emotional and spiritual support and feel like no one really cared what was happening to us.
They just didn’t grasp the life-and-death situation we were facing with storm surges up to 14 feet bursting through our windows one by one, rushing through our home, gathering our possessions as it passed through, taking our belongings, and washing our valuables out to sea.
Remembering how we felt when facing crisis urges me to reach out to others through prayer, along with checking in on them, to see if they are okay. Even when we’re too far away to be there to help, we can offer emotional and spiritual support from afar.
As Romans 15:1 reminds us, during disastrous times, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
Below are four ways we can “be there” from afar for those we love and care about who may be caught in, suffering, struggling, and recovering from experiencing a natural disaster:
1. Let them know we care. If possible, when the internet and phones are working, let people know we care. Let us have the same attitude towards our family, friends, and fellow believers as the Apostle Paul had, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3).
For us, just knowing people are thinking of us, praying, and caring about what is happening to us means more than words can express, bringing comfort and encouragement to us in times of our greatest needs and losses. To be remembered is to feel loved.
2. Pray for them by name and let them know we’re praying for them. More than anything else, we don't want to underestimate how our prayers can intervene and impact situations in places and times when and where nothing else can reach people involved in natural disasters.
Ephesians 6:18 encourages, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1 also writes, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”
Although we don’t have to get bogged down with what’s happening in the world, it’s good to keep an eye and ear open to what may be affecting those we love and care about. As Colossians 4:2 urges, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
3. Offer financial support if needed. As well, during natural disaster recoveries, individuals may find themselves with loss of income for days, weeks, or maybe even months due to business shut downs.
Consider ways God has blessed us and ask Him to lead us in sharing our blessings with those in crisis and need. 2 Corinthians 9:11 encourages, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
With online banking, cash apps, and gift cards, along with other forms of transferring financial funds, offering immediate monetary support is possible. Even if it’s a modest amount, it helps and touches the hearts of those who need it. Hebrews 13:16 says, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
For those who can do more, consider covering a month of groceries, or replenishing household items and clothing, or loaning a vehicle, or paying travel for someone to stay with family, or even covering a month of temporary housing costs for an individual or family whose home was damaged, like Romans 12:13 encourages, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
4. Offer local help when possible. Most areas keep outsiders, aside from relief, power, and FEMA, from entering disaster areas due to accessibility being affected by debris, flooding, and road and bridge shut-downs. Personally taking or sending supplies or help may not be possible at the time.
But even if we live far away, we may know people in the area living closer by those affected by the disaster who can offer help in practical and physical ways, such as assistance with clean-up, construction, recovery, hot meals, and more.
During these disastrous times, Romans 15:1 reminds us, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
Often, we might know someone who is closer to a disaster situation and has the tools to help those we know who are struggling. During these times, we can ask God to bring to mind anyone we know who we can contact on behalf of friends, family, and professional colleagues.
Photo Credit: ©Melissa Sue Gerrits/Stringer
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.