How to Cope When Our Faith Systems Fail Us

I knew we were in trouble when my inner alarm began to screech. The black clouds boiled, hurling angry rain at my porch. And when the winds roared fierce, pushing the deluge horizontal to the soggy ground— we ran. We went from straining our eyes toward the sky in our “sheltered” perch, to a pell-mell dash into the house as we dove into our safe room. 

And waited. Five minutes. Ten minutes. 

The preacher cracked the door and ventured into the silence.

My heart sank as I heard his yelp, “Loree, you’ve got to come see this!”

As I blinked the world into view, I faltered. My backyard, once full of towering trees, now skimble-scrambled by a tornado. Twelve trees uprooted—like a giant gave a great shove and slammed them flat, exposing their naked roots, and piled them so thick I could no longer see the lake view.

Slowly I spun, fearful of what damage I would see on the house. 

Nothing. Nada. Zip except for a few ruffled shingles.

Relief poured through me.

As I waded through the mucky mess to examine the uprooted trees, I stopped, shocked out of my socks. These one-hundred-foot tall trees had no deep root systems.

Because of their proximity to the lake edge, the roots spread wide instead of deep, drinking freely of the water so near the surface. No long tap root, nothing…It’s no wonder they blew down, they had a flimsy foundation holding them to the earth.

They looked strong and hardy from the exterior, but their overturning exposed a well-hidden secret—they were fragile and weak.

During this time of pandemic, like my trees, our underpinnings gape exposed. We have all been uprooted from the life we knew and slammed brutally into the hard earth of the unknown.

We may face the lonely terror of becoming ill or losing our jobs or having enough money to sustain ourselves. Casualties pile until we can’t see through to the lake of hope because of the fear and sorrow blocking our view. 

Our faith system groans as we weather this great trial. Our faith in what we have known in the past lays broken at our feet. The winds of change howl around us, screeching in our ears, “Now how are you going to cope?” And we ask, “When Lord?” But please know, no matter where your faith lies—God sees you and yearns to comfort you.

So we examine our roots and our belief systems when the world spins out of control. We demand answers. And if we can’t have answers, we want comfort and security. Man can give us neither when we are battling an unseen enemy. So many are turning to the ancient words for truth and strength to press on.

The uptick from this history-making event? A quiet spiritual revival rains down among us. Bible purchases are blowing through the roof and a bible app I use says its share of new users has exploded.

Have you been nurturing your roots? The present would be a perfect time to begin a routine of watering them with the word. So when the next storm blows through, and there will be a next time, you will feel the power of God coursing through your roots. And though our humanness makes us all weak at times, his hand will steady the wavering weakness of a faulty foundation.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength always ready to help in times of trouble. 

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam.Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! 

A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.

God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.

 From the very break of day, God will protect it.

The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!

God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

    the God of Israel is our fortress.

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world.

He causes wars to end throughout the earth. 

He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God!

    I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;

    the God of Israel is our fortress.