Email 
Bookmark 
Print Hurricane Katrina: Facing Fear with Courage
by Lynette Hoy, NCC, LCPCWe live in a world filled with change and crisis. War, terrorist threats, natural disasters, death, human suffering and abductions are in the news 24/7. How do these events impact people? What effects have you experienced when you've watched images of the Twin Towers go up in flames, US troops engaged in battle in Iraq, suicide bombings in London, international terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and national security warnings flash across the TV screen?
Maybe these world crises bring back memories of a personal trauma. The loss of a loved one. The suffering of an automobile accident. A time when you were assaulted. A time when you were abandoned.
Shaky marriages, divorce, death, illness, accidents, terrorist threats, and war arouse in us a crisis response. What happens when crisis or trauma impacts people's lives? How can we prepare and respond to crisis as Christians?
What is the difference between a problem and a crisis?
A problem is something you can do something about. A problem is a situation presenting difficulty or uncertainty which needs resolution. A crisis of life is a highly volatile or dangerous situation/emergency requiring immediate remedial action. A crisis is usually something you can do nothing about. A crisis occurs when a stressful life event overwhelms an individual's ability to cope effectively in the face of a perceived challenge or threat.
What kind of impact does a crisis have on people?
Individuals respond with an elevated stress reaction; mental confusion and overload; physical symptoms such as a racing heart and high blood pressure. A crisis can cause people to seek out God or to question their faith.
What should our perspective of trauma, suffering and crisis be as Christians?
It's to be expected: "Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. But, take heart, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). God uses suffering to develop our character, to keep us trusting in Him and to keep us looking forward to heaven.
C.S. Lewis wrote:
The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not our hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bathe or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home. (The Problem of Pain, ch. 7)
How as Christians can we handle crises?
We need to experience God's perspective, spiritual strength and wisdom in daily living to prepare us for crisis living.
Here are some biblical principles for coping with crisis and stress:
- "Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thessalonians 5:17-18)
- "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
- "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2,3).
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but, in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4: 6-7).
Our basis for assurance in crisis: Jesus told us how to face trials with faith and with His strength. He promised to provide His peace in the midst of crisis and His presence always. He said, and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
What are some biblical examples of people who suffered from crises and what can we learn from their lives?
Job, Ruth, David, Paul, Peter suffered in various ways - loss of health, loss of loved ones, war, endangerment of life, persecutions, and more. These heroes of faith kept believing in God and kept obeying. They admitted their need for God's help and their human frailties. But they faced the circumstances and fears with courage and faith.
What are some spiritual and practical interventions for coping with crisis and fear?
Start by seeking God's perspective and wisdom in Scriptures such as Psalm 42:5, 1 Corinthians 4:14-18; Philippians 1:21 and Proverbs.3:5-6. We need to challenge any catastrophic thinking such as: “this is the end of the world” or “there's no use going on.” We need to build a theology of suffering to help bring us through the crisis by reading books like The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis; Disappointment with God, by Phillip Yancey or The God You Can Trust: Strength for the Times When it's Hard to Believe, by Ray Pritchard. We need to know that God is still in control, that God still cares and that He isn't up in heaven wringing His hands over these events.
We can begin with these steps:
- Stabilize by relying on God and His strength through prayer - Psalms 46:1
- Choose courage Joshua 1:9; put on God's armor - Ephesians 6:10-18
- Trust in God's promises - Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:5. What have you learned about God's faithfulness in the past?
- Look to God for hope - Romans 15:13
- Practical interventions can include:
Share - your story/reactions; process grief|
Seek - help/resources. Restoration through exercise, nutrition, relaxation
Surround - yourself with family, friends and support
As Christians we need a spiritual response to the stress response which results from crisis and fear in our lives. We need to experience God's perspective, spiritual strength and wisdom in daily living to prepare us for crisis living. We need to make it a habit to be continually in prayer, and to meditate on Scriptures and learn from the heroes of faith in the Bible.
C.S. Lewis once said:
Relying on God has to begin again every day as if it had never been done. We need to trust that Jesus is there for us and enough for us in times of crisis. Jesus said, "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age and peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you....let not your hearts be troubled. These are truths which can prepare us to respond when crisis and fear come into our lives.
God offers us peace in the midst of tradegy or sorrow. We need to ask for it. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, we encourage you to let us know.
~ Lynette J. Hoy , NCC, LCPC, is a Marriage and Family Counselor and National Certified Counselor, author and speaker. She is the Executive Chair of the Chicagoland CBWC: Connecting Business Women to Christ organization. Lynette is co-founder of CounselCare Connection, P.C. providing online & office counseling for individuals, couples and families. Lynette regularly presents marriage, assertiveness, grief and divorce recovery, anger and stress management seminars. You can read her story online.
©2004 by Lynette J. Hoy, NCC, LCPC
Read Lynette Hoy’s book, What’s Good About Anger? It can be ordered online at: www.whatsgoodaboutanger.com or Amazon.com.
Visit Mrs. Hoy’s other sites: www.counselcareconnection.org/pages/Lay-Counseling.html; www.counselcareconnection.org ; www.lifecareweb.com.
