During the last few weeks, since a wildfire consumed my mother’s home and community, it has felt as if my mother and our family have been running a marathon.
 
If you’ve never gone through a wildfire or other natural disaster then it may be difficult for you to understand what someone goes through.
 

1. First there was the explosion of fear when I learned about the fire: Did it affect my mother’s street?
2. Then there was the explosion of loss of communication as I didn’t know where my mother was: Was she driving away escaping the flames?
3. There was the explosion of heart sickness as our family wondered if she made it out alive: We wondered if she was one of the numbers of those who died.
4. Once we found out she lived through it, there was the explosion of wondering if she lost everything and where she would stay while waiting to find out if she could return home: Which we didn’t know for at least a week.
5. Once we knew her home was gone, there was the explosion of questions she had as to what was she going to do next: Where was she going to live now that everything was gone? Could she keep the independent style she so wanted? So many are still in shelters and even tents. What about them?

 
My mother is more fortunate than others, because she has family to help her through it. And though we are ever grateful that she survived the wildfire, there has been an endless trail of paperwork to be completed for the insurance claim as well as applying for FEMA.
 
There has been canceling utilities and cable companies, changing her address to a P.O. Box and many other things which have to be taken care of. Just as she completed one part of the process another series of situations faced us.
 
It has been one thing after another and through it all, one thing surfaced: Exhaustion. Deep into your bones painful exhaustion.
 
My mom has been brave, but just as anyone who has survived a disaster would tell you, being on the edge of your seat in constant motion not only affects you emotionally but causes chronic health conditions to worsen.
 
In the midst of trying to complete all of the tasks required of the trauma victim, it’s important for them to take care of themselves. So how do we do that? Helpquide.org in their article, “Traumatic Stress – Dealing With Trauma After a Disaster or Disturbing Event,” provides traumatic stress signs and symptoms as well as suggestions on how to deal with it. Some of their ideas include realizing there’s no right or wrong way of dealing with it, avoiding obsessively reliving the event and reestablishing a new routine.
 
Though the life a trauma victim lived no longer exists, it is possible to create a new life and heal from the pain that was suffered. God is close by, also. Just as the Bible verse above says, he gives strength and increases the power of the weary and weak. He will also give them the wisdom they need to complete the tasks set before them. And remember, if you know someone who is a recent trauma victim; lend a helping hand and a listening ear. Healing and relief from exhaustion comes when we look out for each other.

It started with a car’s mechanical failure sparking a small fire.
 
But the fire didn’t stay small for long. It broke out into a ferocious fire storm; a literal fire tornado at one point. It ate everything in its path and soon it was reaching by handfuls into towns and the center of a city.
 
Who would think that a fire would reach downtown? Then the the firefighters had to let the fire go so that they could help with evacuations.
 
Those who had nowhere to go, rushed to evacuation centers. They had to leave their homes quickly and were unable to take many of their possessions.
 
Some heard about neighborhoods and businesses that were completely destroyed. People cried at the thought of having lost everything they had.
 
In a similar way those affected by floods and tornadoes face evacuation and the possibility of losing everything.
 
But had they lost everything?
 
No. Not if they still have what matters the most – their families. Families are the glue that will help you build a new future.
 
“What?” You may say. Yes, a tragedy can actually provide some positive changes in your life. It can be a time to reevaluate your priorities as you attempt to put the pieces of your life back together.
 
Yet, how do we actually do that? What steps do we take to restore out lives after a fire or other disaster? Take a look at the article on wikihow.com, “How to Put Your Life Back Together After a Fire.” Its suggestions include getting help from your community such as contacting disaster relief services, how to recover financially such as how to file an insurance claim, replacing your possessions such as documenting your losses, and recovering emotionally.
 
Having a disaster wipe away elements of your life can seem daunting. But remember that God can send you his comfort from within your ruins, as the Bible verse above speaks of. It also states that gladness and thanksgiving can be found. That may seem impossible at first, but when you remember that you haven’t lost everything if you still have your family it can give you the strength you need to move forward.

2 Timothy 2:3 - Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

​No one would debate that soldiers face hardships every day, but those living with chronic pain or illness also face hardships.
 
There’s the hardship of knowing you’ll never be the same again.
 
There’s the hardship of having difficulty just doing ordinary tasks each day.
 
There’s the hardship of family not understanding you.
 
There’s the hardship of losing finances, because you can’t work anymore.
 
There’s the hardship of forgetfulness, because your pain takes up space in your thinking and leaves no room for much of anything else.
 
There’s the hardship of losing friendships, because they can’t stand to see you in so much pain so they drift away.
 
There’s the hardship of feeling like a failure.
 
There’s the hardship of your heart breaking into a thousand pieces, as you face the pain every and I mean every day.
 
This list seems daunting because it is. But each one of the hardships above can be turned around if you believe they can be:
 

• The frustration of knowing you’ll never be the same again can be seen as an opportunity to grow into a new you despite the pain.

 

• Difficulty performing ordinary tasks each day can be seen as an opportunity to have others help you instead of doing life alone.

 

• Family not understanding you can open up the door for deeper conversations and growth of your relationships.

 

• Not being able to work anymore can turn into having the time to find a way to help others. You can become a good listener or maybe you could be the one to accompany someone else in pain to their doctor’s appointments.

 

• Forgetfulness can lead to becoming more organized as you learn to write things down in your calendar and “to do” lists so you remember what you need to do.

 

• Friendships may seem to be gone forever, but as people see you still thriving, even in the dark valley of pain, may cause them to not drift away, but be drawn to you and your perseverance.

 

• Your heart breaking into a thousand pieces as you face the pain every day can cause you to learn to pick up those pieces as you learn to love yourself again and believe that you can take, even this broken heart, and share it with others who feel broken too.

 

• Everyone, whether they’re in pain or not, at some time feel like a failure. But that feeling can be turned around to finding ways to see yourself as a success because you didn’t give up.

 
Try to remember, each time you’re faced with difficulties, even while a bridge you used to cross has been taken down, you can take a leap of faith and find you didn’t need that bridge after all.
 
As the Bible verse above says, we are to endure our hardship like those soldiers around the world fighting for freedom. God will equip us to fight our battles and give us the encouragement and love we need to win back our freedom in spite of the pain or illness.
 
Read the article from lifehack.org titled, “5 Ways to Deal with Hardship and Pain in Life,” such as detaching yourself from the situation and accept the results and get back up again stronger.