Do You Know What Tomorrow Holds?

An enormous storm, Hurricane Ian, struck the state of Florida on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. To say that it left behind wreckage after making landfall on the west coast would be an understatement.

Extreme storm surges—some even as high as 18 feet—left some of these places completely flooded, engulfing buildings, sweeping away cars and trapping people in their homes.

As of this writing, an article published by South Florida newspaper The Sun-Sentinel reported that 11 people have lost their lives. It may be more by the time you read this.

News reporters led cameras in the aftermath around the most badly affected cities and towns (Fort Myers, Sanibel and surrounding areas), and most of the talk was concerning rescue missions for those stuck in their homes. .

Thankfully, God spared me, my family and everyone I know from this. But as our thoughts and prayers go out to those families who’ve suffered material loss, or much worse, lost loved ones, this is a reminder that we just never know what tomorrow holds…

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”

That’s James 4:13-15, and after the week’s series of unfortunate events, it couldn’t be more clear. 

There are many verses like it in the Bible that warn us about the future…

In the Parable of the Rich Fool, after the rich man tore down his barns to build bigger ones to store his abundance of grain, he thought to himself, “Eat. Drink. Be Merry.” Why? Because he “knew” he had plenty for the rest of his life.

But the Lord told him his life would be taken from him that same day… and everything he’d accumulated would be left for no one.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 says, “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”

This wasn’t the plan for our blog today, but I’ve learned whenever we’re prompted by the Holy Spirit… we should listen and obey.

As others before it tragically have, Hurricane Ian caused a crisis in the lives of many. 

Take this time to evaluate and know the state of your flocks. Do you have a plan for when a crisis hits? Do you have an emergency savings fund? Is there anyone you need to make amends with?

Our next day isn’t promised. Our next hour isn’t promised. Not even our next minute. Our lives aren’t measured in the hustle and bustle of the day to day. They’re measured by our love for the Lord and for everyone around us. Take this time to cherish the people you love. Make a difference for His glory. 

With gratitude,

Melody Stampley

Managing Editor

AUTHOR BIO 

Melody is the founder of financial coaching business Centsible Finance LLC, which publishes the free e-letter Making Cents. She earned a bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Florida in 2014, and a master’s in global strategic communications from Florida International University in 2017; but she discovered her passion in personal finance and writing, as well as a closer relationship with the Lord, after joining a Compass—Finances God’s Way study in 2020. She now also volunteers as a financial coach for MoneyWise, serves as a member on the Compass Florida board, is the editor for the Compass blog, and a facilitator and trainer for financial discipleship studies. Melody and her husband, Nate, live in South Florida.