“Most often what we have chosen to do is right. [The Lord] will confirm the correctness of our choices His way. That confirmation generally comes through packets of help found along the way. We discover them by being spiritually sensitive. They are like notes from a loving Father as evidence of His approval. If, in trust, we begin something which is not right, He will let us know before we have gone too far. We sense that help by recognizing troubled or uneasy feelings (Elder Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer,” November 1989, p. 32).”
What does this have to do with emergency preparedness? Everything. For example, I live in a hurricane prone area. There are SO many things I could do, SO much money to spend fortifying my home. In fact, the choices become overwhelming after a while.
But the Lord sits there quietly waiting. He waits for me to realize that I don’t have to figure out all this on my own. He simply needs me to ask.
Do I need to prepare my physical home for potential local disasters? Of course. To do otherwise would be unwise. We all have seen what hurricanes and floods can do to people’s homes who were not ready.
Is proper home maintenance importance? Absolutely. To do otherwise would be a slothful servant. God blesses us with physical goods in order to see how we care for them. If we have been blessed with a home, we should take care of it.
Should I spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on my home maintenance and emergency preparations? Depends. Each individual’s situation is as different as there are people. And this is where, for me, gratitude begins to rush in.
I don’t have to figure out all this on my own! The Lord – He who has woven the universe together – can help me weave my life, with all its confusing and optional threads of choice. I am not left alone in my efforts to prepare my home for possible emergencies.
Yes, I need to consider power and fuel options, should the electricity go out. Yes, I need to ensure I have sufficient batteries and basic tools for home repairs should I not be able to get to the store after a storm. And yes, if I live in wind-prone areas, I need to reinforce my windows, garage door, doors, and roof.
Yet as the “how” comes for each question, I do not need to despair in the confusion. I can glory that God does hear and answer prayers, even for material questions like in home maintenance and emergency preparations.
Should our homes be prepared for possible catastrophes? Absolutely. And each of us has the best possible partner to advise us in that process: the Lord.
I can’t tell you how best to prepare your home for emergencies, because I don’t know your specific scenario. But the Lord certainly can – and will – if you but ask.
[Click here to learn more about “Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer,” as quoted above from Elder Richard G. Scott.]
