Why would God who carried us through Katrian, abandon us now?

By: Gavin Lews, NOLACatholic Parenting


The first six months of the year have presented all of us with challenges unlike we have ever faced. From COVID-19 shutting down the country and leaving everyone in an awkward mental and physical space, to racial crisis and injustices that seem to have added fuel to what was already a difficult start to 2020.

As I began to face my own personal challenges during this time, I thought back to many of the challenges I faced during Hurricane Katrina and realized that, even then, I could count on family and friends out of town to find a safe place to shelter and worship.

That hasn’t been the case during this pandemic. This left me in a mentally challenging space. I thought about how I felt in that moment August 2005, walking through waist-high water, carrying all that I could in bags on my shoulder believing that my world was coming to an end, thinking that I would never recover, not knowing what my next move was – all while having a family counting on me to have all the answers and bring us through whatever was happening in that moment.

When I began to remember that God bought us through Hurricane Katrina, why would he leave or forsake us now?

Fast forward to today, and COVID-19 has the entire world in a frenzy, with nowhere to run but to God.

I have heard people ask where God is in all of this, questioning their faith and beliefs in not only God but also in humanity. People have admitted that not being able to physically attend church services or speak to their pastor has magnified their concerns, weakened their faith and led them to believe that the country may be beyond repair.

My words to them are the same I clung to in enduring the trials of 2005 – continue to hold God to his word and promise. He sent his son Jesus to die for us. Why would he forsake us now, when we need him most?

The Bible is filled with stories about trials and tribulations coming to us and about weapons being formed against us. But Isaiah 54:17 tells us those weapons will not prosper.

Now is not the time to lose faith or sight of what God has in store for you. No matter how difficult life may be or what current challenges you are facing – loss of a job, loss of a family member or friend, mental or physical illnesses – remain faithful and continue to trust in the Lord and know that better days are ahead.

I know sayings like that always sound like clichés in times like these, but take a moment and think back to the many challenges you have faced in life and then think about how holding on to the word of God brought you through,

and you will see that better days are indeed ahead.

COVID-19 has taught us that we can survive without all of the things we believed we could not live without. The recent focus on racial injustices have taught us that we need to show love to our fellow man and walk closer to God, now more than ever.

Just as you cannot ride the fence with your faith and belief in God, the world cannot afford for you to ride the fence in doing what is right and calling for justice for all of mankind – not just those who look like you.

As Christians, we can’t let the problems of the world become bigger than what our God said he would do for us. While it is not easy to see the sun in the midst of a storm, you have been through storms before and lived to talk about them. Why would you not believe that God can and will bring you through this storm?

Although we may not feel comfortable to physically attend Mass, it is important to continue to hear the word of God – through an online service – be spiritually fed and to grow in faith. This will continue our focus on God and not let the devil place thoughts of uncertainty, fear and hate in our minds or hearts.

This, too, shall pass. – Isaiah 66:9

Gavin C. Lewis Sr., a native of New Orleans, is married and has four young children. He is a graduate of McDonogh 35 Senior High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Holy Cross and is a fulltime student on track to earn a doctorate in organizational development. He enjoys reading, traveling with his family, going to sporting events with his son, swimming and playing dress up with his three daughters.