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In the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires and other recent disasters—from the San Diego floods to the Lahaina fire and not long ago, the Paradise fire—a profound truth emerges: While disaster will come, peace can be found in life’s darkest moments.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Heb. 6:19a). My hope, my peace, my comfort in the storms is found in Christ alone.
James, a recent wildfire survivor, illustrates this reality. Standing amid the ashes of what was once his home, he confessed, “I never realized how much my identity was tied to this house, to what I own, my possessions. I feel like it burned a part of me.”
Yet the more he prayed, he said, the more he began to experience peace. The peace found only in the presence of God.
James realized something remarkable: While the fire destroyed his house, it couldn’t destroy his faith. “He’s the same today, yesterday and forever,” James said.
This journey from devastation to peace echoes the wisdom found in Psalm 62:5, which offers both a premise and a promise: Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Find rest in God, and hope will follow. It’s a truth exemplified by historical figures like King David, who maintained his faith even after losing his throne and comforts, and Horatio Spafford, who penned “It Is Well With My Soul” after losing his fortune in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and his four daughters to a maritime disaster.
Today’s world bombards us with negative news and constant chaos. Many find themselves growing weary—not just physically, but spiritually, in their souls. This deep exhaustion can’t be cured by a good cup of coffee, an afternoon nap or even the comforts of home. True rest, as both ancient wisdom and modern experience suggest, comes from something more fundamental. Let me add, true peace and hope come only from God.
The key lies in recognizing where we place our trust.
Trust is faith in action.
Our homes, possessions, routines and even loved ones can vanish in an instant. Last August, I experienced this truth personally when my mother passed away. At 93 years old, she would often tell me, “Trust God, put your faith in him.” These losses, while painful, invite us to examine what truly provides hope in our lives.
As Philippians 4 reminds us, contentment isn’t found in circumstances but in something deeper. When everything else is stripped away, what remains?
For those who have lost everything in recent disasters, it’s not a theoretical question—it’s ruthlessly real.
The answer isn’t found in what we can acquire or achieve, nor in titles or fame. Instead, it’s found in understanding that when we lose everything temporal, we haven’t lost everything that matters. True peace, true hope—as demonstrated by countless survivors of personal and natural disasters—come from building our lives on something more permanent than physical possessions.
In times of crisis, this truth becomes especially relevant. While we can’t prevent all disasters or avoid all losses, we can choose where we place our ultimate trust. The challenge—and opportunity—is to find rest not in the temporary comforts of life, but in something that remains unchanged even when everything else is lost.
For those currently facing trials, this message offers both comfort and direction.
True peace isn’t found in the absence of storms, but in finding an unshakeable anchor amid them.
As our communities continue responding to various crises, this perspective offers a framework for both immediate response and long-term resilience. It reminds us that while material aid is crucial, true recovery must address both physical and spiritual needs.
As Spafford wrote: “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”
Where does one find strength like that? Where does one find peace like that?
We find it in God alone.
He alone is my hope.
He is alone is my salvation.
Do Good:
- You’ve probably seen the red kettles and thrift stores, and while we’re rightfully well known for both…The Salvation Army is so much more than red kettles and thrift stores. So who are we? What do we do? Where? Right this way for Salvation Army 101.
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