What do rising flood waters and recent violent events have in common?
They are both relentless.
The Chicago area is flooded today. Rivers and rain water intruded into streets, back yards and houses. Sump pumps valiantly ejected water from below the foundations of houses and buildings, but they did not always keep up.
This morning our neighbor had a sump pump failure, so we helped her stay ahead of the water seeping into her sump while waiting for a plumber to fix the inoperative pump. It was stressful. (Especially with the backup pump alarm audibly expressing our anxiety.)
After the sump pump adventure, I felt a similar reaction to the surging level of evil in our world screaming at me from the front page of today’s newspaper.
Rising water and escalating evil are relentless.
In spite of diligent security, a terrorist succeeded in seeping into the crowd at the Boston Marathon finish line. The resulting explosion at a classically American competitive event in Boston on Patriot’s Day was a challenge to the very foundations of our country. A factory exploded in Texas. Suspicious. Poisoned letters. Weird.
Are there enough security sandbags to hold off the relentlessly rising waters of hostility and violence in our world?
If you’ve ever fought against rain water, you know the answer to that question.
Today’s experience with relentless rain demonstrates three truths about escalating evil:
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We can and should protect our homes against heavy rains, but unrelenting water will eventually find a way in. Thankfully, the rain stopped this morning, our neighbor’s sump pump is operational, and her basement is dry. But if the rain had been heavier we would not have been able to keep up. Likewise, evil will never give up.
- Only God is powerful enough to fully protect us. Sandbags and sump pumps and carefully placed downspouts will keep water under control for a while, but only God can stop the rain. Similarly, governments, laws, security plans, and community efforts are all helpful in containing evil, but it is escalating at rates that we cannot defend against indefinitely. God is our ultimate protection, and we are foolish to fight against or without Him.
- Responding to relentlessly rising waters brings people together and exposes goodness. Neighbors help neighbors. Good and honest plumbers provide prompt and fair service. The nation unites in prayer, support and practical assistance for those who have suffered loss in Boston and in Texas and in the flooded Midwest. Darkness cannot extinguish light; it’s the other way around.
Evil is relentless, but God is more powerful.
Evil is relentless, but it exposes much good.
Ultimately, God will stop the rain.
“I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'” Psalm 91:2
Connecting Dots...to God 
Thank you, Judy, for reminding us of where our hope must be – in Christ! It is so easy to get overwhelmed when we take our eyes off the Rock. That verse you ended with would be a good one to memorize, ahead of time, for the next storm we pass through…
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thanks for the follow Judy! I love your site and appreciate your perspective. May God continue to bless you as share His inspiration with others!
“But God . . .”
That is the only hope in a world which grows darker and more evil.
I think 2 Chronicles 7:14 has become the theme verse for this time . . . “IF My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”
Thank you for the comfort of Jesus in your post, Judy! I loved how you showed that though evil is relentless, God is more powerful and the more evil we see, the more good is exposed as well. I have been listening for a message from Him today . .as our basement is flooded (not unusual) and until it stops flowing in, there’s really nothing we can do to dry it up down there. Your post helped me to further my listening to Him! God bless you! Sorry I talked so much today!
So sorry to hear you’re dealing with water, Debbie. No fun! May your basement dry soon, and it is a pleasure to hear from you!
awesome post. I loved the way you tied “relentless flood waters” to “escalating evil” and your emphatic “But God”
He is indeed our only help against the rising tides of evil.
Thanks Walter. Yes, He is our help!
Although I’m saddened by this thought, I think you will have many more chances in the future to write about escalating evil. Hopefully, like your great water analogy, it will eventually stop.
It sure looks that way, doesn’t it? Thanks Larry.
This is wonderful, Judy. The deluge of evil is surely overwhelming some days–and truly, man without God cannot stem the tide or “fix it”. My neighbor is part of some “doomsday preparedness” group (he’s a nonbeliever)–and I’ve told him repeatedly that he needs to “get Jesus”/”get on board with Jesus”, or all of his and his colleagues efforts will be futile. But so far, he just hasn’t caught the revelation.
I’m sorry to hear about the flooding–makes me grateful we are having “normal Seattle rain”. I’ll be keeping you all in prayer–God bless you.
Thank you, Jael. We escaped the worst of it, but some areas are still in trouble. Today is just windy, so maybe things will dry up sooner!
Don’t know if this will cheer you, but I was thinking of you and Deb (near Peoria?), and wrote this tau ku:
The rain, it can’t maintain;
But must
Refrain, abstain; give sun domain.~~Jael Sterling
I love it! Thanks Jael. Last night we had snow:). Yep, April in Chicago.
Oh my goodness–stupid weather, bleech!