Wednesday, October 28, 2026From the news

Building Walls Before the Waters Rise

As workers in Nairobi prepare for the flooding that El Niño may bring, we are reminded that God is our refuge in every storm and that faithful preparation and trust in Him can go hand in hand.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

Psalm 46:1-2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2

Some news stories arrive quietly, and yet they stay with us. This week, we read about a city in Nairobi that is known for its floods, and about a group of workers called the "Green Army" who are getting ready before the rains and the disaster that El Niño may bring. Their effort is a picture of something we all understand: the wisdom of preparing before the storm arrives, rather than waiting until the water is already at the door.

If you have lived through a flood, a fire, a diagnosis, or a sudden loss, you know how helpless the waters can make you feel. Perhaps this week you are carrying a worry you cannot see clearly yet. Let us take heart. The fear that rises in us when we see danger coming is not a sign that we have failed. It is a sign that we are human, and that God made us to need Him.

The psalmist knew this kind of fear well. He wrote of a world where the earth itself might give way and the mountains might tumble into the sea. Yet he did not end in despair. He began with a settled confidence: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Notice the word "present." God is not a distant witness to our floods. He is near enough to be found in the middle of them. The psalm does not promise that the storm will never come. It promises that the Lord is with His people when it does.

Isaiah speaks with the same tenderness. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." The Lord does not say, "You will never face the waters." He says, "You will pass through them, and I will be with you." That is the gospel in one sentence. Our Savior walked into the deepest waters for us, into the flood of our sin and the grave itself, so that we could be held by Him even when the currents are strong. Because Jesus has already come through death and risen again, we can face our own uncertain seasons without being abandoned to them.

Now, there is also a place for the practical work of preparation, and I want to honor it. The people in Nairobi who are clearing, planning, and readying their city are doing something good and worthy. God often works through the diligence of ordinary people who care for their neighbors. Our faith does not make us careless about the wisdom of planning ahead. Instead, it frees us to plan with open hands, trusting that our labor is not the final protection. Our confidence rests in the Lord who holds the waters.

So what might this look like in your own life this week? Perhaps it is one honest conversation you have been avoiding. Perhaps it is a small step of planning for a financial or family need, done with prayer rather than panic. Perhaps it is reaching out to a neighbor who may be facing their own flood. Preparation and trust are not rivals. We can do what is wise in front of us while we lean on the One who is our refuge.

If the waters are rising for you right now, do not hurry past this moment. Sit with the Lord for a while. Tell Him what you are afraid of. He already knows, and He is not repelled by your fear. He invites you to bring it to Him, the same God who has been present to every generation that has walked through floods and fire and found Him faithful.

You are not alone in the current. The Lord is with you, and He will bring you through.