Read Time: 2 minutes 33 seconds
In the wake of Hurricane Ian’s destruction, God’s covenant of peace is being felt throughout the state of Florida. People have lost their homes and the vacation destinations where people flock to make memories with their families have been washed away. Despite the devastation, a message of hope is rising from the ruins.
Winter Springs resident Jennifer Mozley lives on Lake Jesup, far from the coast. Residents in Central Florida have gone back to work and resumed their daily lives, but flood waters are still rising for some residents across the Orlando area.
“I spoke to a lady yesterday who’s been here for 30 years and she’s never seen it like this,” Mozley says.
Mozley, a former missionary, lives on Lake Jesup which is known for the ample number of alligators inhabiting the waters. After the St. John’s River started overflowing past flood level, the waters started pouring furiously into Lake Jesup.
“We had heard so much about the devastation in Port Charlotte and Ft. Myers that I was really surprised to come back to this,” Mozley says.
The waters have only continued to rise, now flowing around her home and consuming what was once a yard and dock. In a video interview with Mozley you can watch here, you can see the waters are still rising.
“I go to a great church, Nations Church Orlando, they are just amazing men and women of God, they’ve got a hurricane response team and they are doing relief all over Orlando.”
The body of Christ is coming together in this hour to provide hope and relief to those who need it most. Florida Senator Rick Scott joined Convoy of Hope in the Fort Myers area where search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.
At least 78 people have died from the hurricane, that authorities know of so far. “Many people have lost their homes. Unfortunately, many have lost their loved ones,” Scott says.
As followers of Jesus it is our mandate to show the world where they can find hope in times of great despair. This is the Great Commission. A people joining together with God to go on a mission of spreading the good news.
“That’s exactly what we need right now, and that’s exactly what’s happening in the great state of Florida,” Scott says.
Whether you have been affected by Hurricane Ian or are dealing with a personal crisis, knowing and trusting God is essential to get through the storm.
“If you don’t have the peace of the Lord and you’re not just trusting in Him to help you and give you wisdom in these times, you can really react instead of respond,” Mozley says.
Mozley says the Lord has been gracious to her and her daughter in the tumultuous time, she hasn’t doubted for a moment that Jesus is with her.
“We have to get to know Jesus. It’s not religion, it’s a relationship. I lost my husband in the pandemic last year, if I didn’t have my relationship with the Lord I couldn’t get through any of this,” she says.
Here is how you can help:
- Pray for residents like Jennifer Mozley on Lake Jesup that they would be protected from the rising waters and that God would supernaturally bring the water levels down.
- Pray for those who have lost loved ones that they would be comforted by the Lord.
- Pray that God would rebuild communities back stronger and that people would come to know Jesus and His lovingkindness.
- Give to Convoy of Hope or Nations Church to help support relief efforts across the state of Florida. {eoa}
Shelby Lindsay is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
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