In the middle of January, when I was 12, my house burned down. I can’t explain the acute feelings of seeing fiery flames pouring out my bedroom windows.

We are now in the middle of January 2025, and the fires in California are still spreading, and the original ones are still not contained. I live in Texas, yet I feel as if I am right there with all the people who have lost their entire lives in these fires. This type of devastation – whole towns destroyed – will be almost impossible to recover from.

Where is God?

The death toll as of this writing has surpassed 24 and is expected to rise; at least 13 people are missing. The Palisades Fire – spanning over 22,600 acres – is only ~20% contained.

Over 200,000 people have been displaced, and more than 12,300 structures, including some historic landmarks, have been destroyed. With strong winds continuing this week, 8 million people remain in the crucial fire risk zone. That’s like my city of Frisco (250,000 people), along with many other towns that size, at risk of being wiped out.

What would it be like to wake up and see that everywhere I look, everything is gone? All we can do is look to God, His Word, and the hope He gives us no matter what we face in our lives.

Manna from Heaven

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; thou its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV

Yes, even when our part of the world is gone, God will always be our refuge and strength. Our world, its people and creation, has been in a fallen state since sin entered the Garden of Eden. The evil one is “the prince of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), and for some reason, God has given him control of parts of our world. He wants to destroy everything that God has created, and we should never forget that fact: our families, our marriages, our health, and our world he wants to destroy.

Bystanders have said that the fire came down the mountain like fiery missiles; nothing could have stopped this fire of destruction. And as hard as it is, we must have faith that God is in control and will allow this tragedy to come to good. In fact, I know God is in control and will make good out of this.

I am an oil painter, and as I was looking around my house to see what I would grab at the last moment, I realized that I couldn’t get everything. Then I realized that nothing would last! All my paintings, all my material possessions, will one day be gone because of something wonderful! We will get a new heaven and a new earth!

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:1-3

This is our hope: an eternity living with God! We are called to have faith in God, no matter what happens, and walk in this faith, not by what we see or experience. What joy we will have then!

Action Plan

I wanted to write a blog to help you start the new year, but discussing this disaster was more critical. However, there is a message in all of this on this Organizational Blog!

Take time to video your home and all its contents. Get a fireproof box for your important papers: birth certificates, passports, and paid bills for your water, electricity, and mortgage. Add insurance papers for your car and home. Some family heirlooms and jewelry could be added, as could special photos.

Talk with your family about an escape route in case of fire or a meeting place in a protected area inside your home in case of hurricanes or tornadoes.

And remember to pray for God’s protection and peace during any trial. He promises He will never leave you – ever.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38