This week marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey devastating Southeast Texas. I spent part of last week in Houston visiting with victims of the storm, being inspired by their bravery and determination.

Make no mistake, the journey toward recovery continues for many of those who suffered unimaginable loss to the hurricane. It moves forward every time a hammer hits a nail, every time a child survives a panic attack when it rains and every time they can offer hope to others. We’ll tell many of these stories on the Buckner blog as the week goes on.

For the people who lived through Hurricane Harvey, their storm has been literal. For the rest of us, our storms might be the loss of a job, a divorce or death of a family member. In this life, there are a myriad of ways we experience suffering. 

Whatever shape our difficulties may take, God is with us in the midst of them. He is as much with us as he was with Jacob in Genesis 28. There, we find Jacob traveling to Harran when he has a dream. Angels are traveling up and down a staircase to heaven and God announces his blessing upon Jacob. 

Jacob awakes with an announcement of his own: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” God met Jacob where he was, just as he meets us where we are today. 

God’s presence moves Jacob in such a way that he declares his allegiance to God in verses 20-22.

“If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

The families I visited with last week in Houston sensed the presence of the Lord throughout the storm. He protected and guided them through it, and he continues to comfort them now. Will you let him do the same in your life this week?

Written by John Hall, associate director of public relations for Buckner International.