It has been a really heavy couple of days for me, so much so that I’ve had to step back from social media. It’s all becoming a bit much, and I’ve found myself in a place where I can’t handle the overwhelm anymore. I cannot begin to imagine what the individuals and families who’ve been displaced are feeling right now.
Some people made it through Hurricane Melissa with little to no damage — no flooding, no loss, just power flickers, anxious prayers, and the relief of seeing another morning. But for many others, that same morning came with heartbreak — homes gone, roads washed away, silence where a loved one’s voice should’ve been. And for those of us, like myself, watching from a distance, glued to updates and videos — the weight feels unbearable. Just this morning, I spoke with a friend who still can’t reach her family, and I know she’s not the only one. The result? Helplessness. Emptiness. Not knowing.
There’s a phrase floating around — survivor’s guilt. But I think what many of us are feeling goes deeper than guilt. It’s empathy. It’s love. It’s that ache that comes when you care so deeply and can’t fix it. If you’re like me, someone who feels things deeply, it’s heavy right now. You’re heartbroken for others even as you whisper, “Thank You, God, for sparing me and mine.” And somehow, both can be true. Gratitude and grief can coexist.
Here’s what I’m reminding myself:
God takes care of His people. Even when the storm hits, even when it spares, even when it leaves us wondering why some and not others, He is still present. Our prayers matter. They move things seen and unseen. When we don’t have the resources or the reach, we still have prayer — and that’s not small. That’s power. So if all you can do right now is pray, then do that and mean it. Pray for strength. Pray for provision. Pray for peace over those who are still waiting to hear from their loved ones. And pray for your own heart too — that it won’t drown in the sorrow, but stay tender and hopeful. Because God reigns, and He remembers and He will restore.
Let this passage of scripture be a comfort and bring you hope—“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
So let us keep showing up in prayer, in love, in whatever small ways we can. Take a deep breath. Be grateful. And know that it’s okay to feel deeply, fully, even when the storm didn’t hit your door. Don’t carry guilt, carry grace. That’s how we heal, together.
