SEPTEMBER 6, 2005

THE DEEPER THE WATER, THE DEEPER THE FAITH!
by Pastor George Van Alstine

Among those people who felt the fury of Hurricane Katrina and then watched helplessly as the flood waters rose were many who believe in the loving God of the Bible. I’ve been identifying with their faith struggles as I’ve watched television news reports of the many tragic personal stories. What would believers be going through?

First, I think they would have to face the question of whether God answers prayer. As they heard the increasingly alarming predictions of Katrina’s building intensity, they prayed as any of us would have prayed: “Lord, don’t let this storm hit us full force. Reduce its power. Turn its direction.” But the hurricane came on, strengthening in force, with its center focused on the New Orleans bull’s-eye.

As the storm hit, believers’ prayers adjusted: “Lord, strengthen the levees, so that they hold back the life-threatening waters. Father, take care of your children.” But the levees gave way, and the city was flooded over 80% of its surface.

How would believers feel as the water came in over their door sill, covered the carpets, lifted chairs and tables? What would be their thoughts as they climbed the stairs to the second floor? I’m sure they would have identified with the psalmist’s “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1), just as Jesus did when he was dying on the cross. “Why are you so far away?” (Psalm 35:22) “How long will you forget me?” (Psalm 13:1)

Did God stop listening? Did their calls for help all bounce off the ceiling? Had the One they had called “Father” become their persecutor?

Amazingly, faith is flourishing in New Orleans, in spite of what seem to be failures. People found ways to join together to worship this past Sunday; many have shared testimonies of personal deliverance in life-threatening situations; some have risked their lives for others, inspired by the example of Jesus and empowered by his Spirit. They have discovered what their spiritual ancestors have learned in past generations: the deeper the water, the deeper the faith!

It’s not that they have explanations for the apparent failure of God to answer their earlier prayers; it is that their prayers have been answered on deeper, more critical, more lasting ways. Many of their earlier prayers must seem superficial in retrospect.

At first, we may be praying that God will protect our plans: “Lord, don’t let it rain on my picnic.” Then, we worry about the security of our “things”: “Lord, protect my property from damage.” But our plans and our possessions really don’t matter much when our life and the lives of family members are at stake. So our prayer becomes a plea for survival.

Ultimately, some believers actually lost their lives in the tragedy. Their last prayer was probably much like that which Jesus expressed from the cross: “Father, into your hands I trust my spirit.” In that moment they had given up on all their fantasies of rescue and put themselves at the complete mercy of the Rescuer. This was the prayer beneath all their other prayers all along. Life pressures, critical circumstances, or dangerous enemies may scuttle our plans, strip us of our “things,” and even snuff out a person’s life. But the essence of the person, his soul or spirit, is eternally safe and secure in the hollow of the Father’s hand.
“I am the Lord your God, your Savior.
You are precious in my sight, and I love you . . . .
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.” (Isaiah 43:2-4)