Se’erat Hashem Olah – The Storm Raged… but So Did the Light
Se’erat Hashem Olah – The Storm Raged… but So Did the Light
Shalom, beloved friends,
The rains came hard over the Texas Hill Country. Torrents fell like judgment, carving through communities and campgrounds with a fury we have not seen in years. Rivers swelled beyond memory, sweeping away homes, vehicles, cabins, and, tragically, lives.
We grieve. We ache. And yet, we do not despair.
In the shadow of destruction, the Ruach of the Living God moved. While the enemy sought to sow fear and loss, our God stirred up courage, compassion, and awe-inspiring resilience. In the very land soaked with tears, worship rose like incense.
One of the most moving images to emerge from this tragedy came from a humble bus filled with rescued children, evacuated from a flood-stricken camp. These precious young ones, recently delivered from death, did not cry or panic. They sang. Worship songs. Voices united in praise to Hashem, the God who delivers. No script. No stage. Just children of the covenant—rescued, rejoicing.
Let that image sink in.
In another part of the devastation zone, a young U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, on his very first mission, pulled over 165 men, women, and children to safety. One by one, through pounding rain, debris-choked waters, and high winds, he brought them out. What an image of sacrificial love and holy calling. Whether that young man knows it or not, he was a vessel in the hand of God.
And is that not how the Light often shows up?
Not in the absence of the storm, but in it. Not when the skies are clear, but when the heavens seem shut. It is in the roaring chaos that Hashem still whispers, “I am here. I am your refuge. I am your salvation.”
The prophets of old understood this. They saw catastrophe and covenant side by side. They heard the cries of widows and war orphans, and yet they still proclaimed:
“The steadfast love of Adonai never ceases. His mercies never come to an end.”
We must do the same.
So, what do we say in such a time? We say that though the waters rise, our foundation holds. Though the storms rage, the Shepherd is near. And though sorrow may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning.
Let us mourn with those who mourn, but never stop praising. Let us support those who have lost everything, but point them to the One who restores all things. Let us give generously, pray fervently, and speak boldly, declaring that Hashem is not absent. He is present in the boat, even when the waves crash.
To those brave families rebuilding in Texas, to the worshipping children, to the heroic first responders—we see you. More importantly, He sees you.
And to all who read this today: lift your eyes, for your redemption is nearer than you think.
Hold the line. Speak the truth. Shine the Light.
With you in the storm,
Shawn
Shawn M. Greener, MTh., D.I.S., DPTh
© 2025 Shawn M. Greener. All rights reserved.
Shalom b’Shem Yeshua
Shawn M. Greener, MTh., D.I.S., DPTh.
I am just a beggar who found Bread, helping other hungry beggars to find Him too. My life has certainly been complex and I my halo has many dents. Heschel said; "Something Sacred hangs in the balance of every moment." I live like it. I teach like it.
As a person who survived a fatal 92 mph vs 51 mph head on crash, after dying and re-animating, and surviving several other brushes with death, my perspective is, let's say, unique. I haven't always been a theologian and I'm living REAL life, just like you... I have my hurts, habits and hangups too.
I've learned a few very important things along the way that I'm confident you'll find useful... butter for the Gluten free Bread so to speak.. Oh, you may chuckle or full on snort along the way, but you might also shed a few tears... Faith for LIFE... That's how it happens.
It Was Never About the Water
