When the Storms Roll In: What Hatteras Taught Me About Faith
Have you ever been somewhere so peaceful you could actually feel your shoulders drop?
That's Hatteras for me.
There's something about the ocean that has always been a way God speaks to me. The rhythm of the waves settles the weariness right out of my soul. Down there, time slows down. We breathe a little deeper. We pray a little longer. We find a kind of peace that honestly doesn't make sense anywhere else.
But I have to be honest with you, because that's how I try to do this whole thing.
Peaceful places don't stay peaceful forever. Not even Hatteras.
Sometimes, when we least expect it, the storms start rolling in. The skies turn dark. And before we know it, we feel like we're being tossed around in the waves with absolutely no hope of rescue.
Maybe you know that feeling. I sure do.
I think about Mark 4, when the disciples were in the boat and the storm came up so fast they were convinced they were going to die, and Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat the whole time. They woke Him up practically panicking, and He just stood up and said, "Peace, be still." And it was still.
That's the God we serve. He doesn't always stop the storm before it starts. But He is never asleep in the boat, even when it feels like it.
So what actually clears the clouds when the storm hits?
For me, it comes down to a few things. Truth. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Healing. Hope. And Perfect love, the kind that casts out fear, like it says in 1 John 4.
Truth means being honest about what's really going on, even when it's messy. Forgiveness means letting go of what's been weighing you down, even the stuff you're still carrying against yourself. Reconciliation means being willing to walk back toward the people and the relationships that storms tend to damage. And healing, well, healing is never a straight line. It's a daily choice to keep walking toward the light even when you don't feel like it yet.
This is exactly the heart behind my novel, Hatteras House. It's a story that took me a long time to release, if I'm being honest with you. I sat on it for years, wrestling with self doubt and wondering if I had any business telling this story at all. But two things can be true at the same time. I can regret the delay and also trust that God's timing is always right on time.
Hatteras House is about a family walking through their own storm, and finding that same truth, forgiveness, healing, and hope waiting for them on the other side. If you've ever needed a story that reminds you God is still in the boat with you, this one's for you.
Get your copy of Hatteras House on Amazon here
And friend, the story isn't over.
I am so excited to tell you that the follow up, Weathering the Storm, is coming soon. This one picks back up with the Garrison family. Kayla and Eric find themselves trapped together as a hurricane barrels toward the coast, and it forces them to face questions about love, growing up, and what comes next that neither one of them is ready for. And back home, Matt and Laura are still learning how to navigate life after Matt's PTSD diagnosis, discovering that healing really is a daily choice, not a one time fix.
I'll be sharing more details soon, so keep an eye on your inbox.
If you want to be part of the everyday moments, the behind the scenes, and the little things I don't put anywhere else, come find me on Instagram. I'd love to have you there.
Until next time, remember this. The storm may be loud, but His voice is louder.
