Sharpshooter loves the show on NatGEO called “Doomsday Preppers”. He has our grandson watching it too and when the two of them are together they talk about bug out bags and bunkers and lots of other things that are foreign to my vocabulary! “Doomsday Preppers explores the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it.” (quote from website)
Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe in being prepared for disaster. The Bible teaches us to be prepared (do not confuse with hoarding).* After reading Terri Blackstock’s Restoration series about a worldwide EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse), I was impressed to get prepared! We have a well-stocked pantry, candles, matches, oil lamps and oil and a few other necessary things. I am not obsessed with prepping as are the folks you see on the television show!
Last Thursday night, January 17th at 7:20 p.m. our lights went out – we were having a major snow and ice storm and there was a widespread power outage. In our area of the county this is very rare but nevertheless, darkness reigned. I got out a few candles and my Kindle Fire had plenty of stored power and I was a happy camper playing Words with Friends in the cozy confines of our bed. After my games I enjoyed reading several chapters of Cross Roads by Wm. Paul Young – no lights to put out, no tv to turn off we went sound asleep about ten o’clock. As is the norm, I got up several times in the night to use the restroom and each time I expected to notice the nightlight on in the bathroom but, alas, darkness prevailed.
Upon awakening Friday morning – it was still dark as pitch, with no glimmers of 15 watt bulbs to light the darkness. The burners on our gas stove lit with a match and coffee was made the old-fashioned way and, I might add, was delicious. After coffee and oatmeal, our gallon of water in the refrigerator was gone and since we were allowing the stored water in the hot water heater to be used exclusively for flushing, my husband says, “Well there’s always the creek.” Being the prepper I am, I battled the cold and wind and retrieved four gallon jugs of water from the root cellar. Sharpshooter was amazed and quite proud – “You store water?” “Of course,” I answered, “You aren’t the only one who prepares for doomsday!” We had a good laugh. By noon, this wilderness wife was still enjoying the quiet and serenity of silence. I had finished my book on the Kindle and its power supply was just about gone. I made a huge pot of vegetarian chili and managed to eek out hot water to hand wash the dishes. I packed some dairy items in a bin of snow in order not to lose them and I put a big pot of snow in both the refrigerator and the deep freezer to help keep the stored food cold as long as possible.
By three o’clock in the afternoon, I prayed, “Lord, perhaps You could get the power back on before dark tonight.” I am not a wimp by any definition and I would have been just fine even if we had to haul water from the creek to flush toilets – but, I was very happy when that soft hum of electricity surged through the house at 4:45 p.m.
In my devotional that morning were the words: “Learn to trust Me when things go wrong. Disruptions to your routine highlight your dependence on Me.”(1)
I am grateful that God has given me knowledge and the ability to prepare for times of emergency. As I think about “prepping” for hard times, I am challenged to evaluate my spiritual prepping. I want to be prepared for anything that may strike against our daily peace. What is in my faith and trust tank? Do I unequivocally trust God to know what He is doing? Do I fully believe that He is sovereign over ALL things? “Do I rejoice in the face of hardship?”(2) Am I prayed up?
These are good questions to ask ourselves as we continue to creep into a new year – I told you that I was not making resolutions but these are questions that I will hold myself accountable to as this year moves forward. It is time for us, as born-anew believers in Jesus Christ, to know what we are made of. Do we have what it takes to be overcomers?
Are we prepping?
xo
(1) and (2) quotes from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
* Proverbs 10.5; Proverbs 12.11; Proverbs 20.4; Proverbs 27.23-27
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
ohhhh, this sure does make me Ponder’ Thank you Lord, for the words you have instructed for Susi, to teach us
I am right there with you. I have always thought being prepared shows wisdom. Being prepared in the word more so, sad to say we are not always prepared as we should be, especially in the word. We can know our Lord is right there with us no matter what happens and we should continue to Praise him in all things.
Very very good question….thanks for making me think and dive deep.
I too am not a hoarder but I think having some “stuff” stored up is okay. We store up the Word when we need it so I think having a closet of “stuff” is okay. Glad you had what you needed.
Very good, Susan! I enjoyed reading it. We are “preppers” here…but, nothing on the magnitude of what the TV show shows….and, of course, our most important preparation is that of our spirits. Love ya!
We experienced two full weeks without power – no heat or electricity this fall during Hurricane Sandy. I can’t say that I would want to repeat those cold, dark days and nights. We managed with what we had stored up but were so thankful for the return of the basics. Storing up The Word for those times when we are personally without power in our circumstances seems like the best preparation we can make daily.