By Rhonda Stinson
It was a sunny afternoon. I stood beside the beach umbrella breathing in warm air and gazing at
waves that seemed to flow out of the sky. My mom and I began to pack up our gear when I stopped her and said, “Stand still and look out at this beautiful view.” She played her role well by breathing in with a deep sigh of enjoyment. Then I asked her to do a 180 degree turn with me. “Now look. Can you believe that we can stand in one place and see utter beauty and then turn around and see utter destruction?” The 2022 hurricane ripped through this area last year turning over ships, tearing up homes, destroying trees and leaving the area without electricity. It looked like a bomb was dropped in this once vibrant tourist area.
When we visited in November of 2020, the beach was packed, restaurants and small shops were busy with customers and the place was hopping with excitement. It was now a place of busyness due to FEMA trucks hauling out rubbage, work trucks lining the parking lots, port-o-lets for workers and tourists, and the faint hum of generators. It’s amazing that one event can cause so much destruction. It will take time to rebuild, but one day Ft. Myers will be vibrant and active again.
As my mom and I contrasted the beautiful ocean scene with the scene of destruction, my mind went back to my own life. As a child, I remember being quite happy and energetic. I grew up in a Christian home and trusted Christ as my Savior when I was 9 years old. When I got into my late teens, I was unhappy because I felt alone. It seemed like there was no one to talk to who really understood me. After high school, friends began moving away to go to college or get married. I was an introvert and found it very hard to create friendships. I thought, maybe if I lost weight I would like myself better and, in turn, others would like me better too. There’s much more that play into developing an eating disorder, but one of them is believing Satan’s lies. He knew how to play on my low self-esteem. I went through 25 years in a hurricane of destruction. It tore apart every part of me physically, mentally, and spiritually.
One day, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in a very heart-audible way. That was a day when my view went from looking at a scene of destruction to turning to see a gorgeous and vast ocean of faith, hope and possibilities. The clean-up is still in progress and so is the building process. God is not only rebuilding my life, He is making me better and stronger than I was before. He is my foundation. I am His child and will accomplish everything He has set forth for me to do. At this very moment, I am sitting here singing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
You are safe:
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2
You are special and unique:
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, I know that full well” Psalm 139:14).
You have a bright future:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
You are not alone:
The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
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