Who knew?

All of us in Florida are well aware of the dangers involved when our fine state is in the path of a hurricane. These storms—from being a tropical depression to an all-out Cat 5 hurricane—wreak havoc when they approach our shores, or linger over our land.

Floridians have become quite adept at preparing for the onslaughts as they come. But did you know that there are important benefits, even critical services, that are provided by a hurricane?

There are. And a recent Weather Channel story detailed these benefits, and how the storms are essential to not only our state, but to the earth in general.

For starters, hurricanes bring rain—a lot of it, and at times, too much for our liking. Yet, even when we have to suffer through the temporal flooding and inconveniences caused by the torrential downpours, our whole aquifer system benefits after a good soaking brought on by one of these tropical nightmares.

Those of us who have been in Florida for years will remember the fires that we all endured in the late 90s. Large areas would be covered by thick smoke, all caused by the tinderbox conditions brought on by drought.

I remember them being so frequent and pervasive that we could smell the smoke miles away. We were praying for rain, and we were so delighted when we had our first downpour.

The next two benefits the Weather Channel cited were breaking up bacteria and red tide and providing a global heat balance. The article also detailed the replenishment of inland plant life that occurs through a hurricane.

The fifth benefit from storms is replenishment of barrier islands. This was the most surprising to me, as I would have only considered the aspects of destruction to island life. But hurricanes bring much needed sand and sediment on the ocean floor to the islands, essentially refreshing and replenishing the islands.

This article reminded me of how easy it is to miss the life lessons that happen during seasons when we are encountering hardship and difficulty. It is human nature to focus on getting through those tough times, but that process can shield our eyes on the hidden benefits and blessings to our life that are initially unseen or apparent.

I grew up hearing the old adage that “every dark cloud has a silver lining.” It is not difficult to dismiss such a saying as pure cliché, but there is much truth contained in that expression.

The key to wisdom is pausing and looking for that silver lining—while in the midst of the storm. It isn’t easy to do, but we can do it with faith and belief in God.

One of my favorite passages in the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 43:1-3, which says:

“…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

It is wise to prepare for the storms that come into our lives, both from a practical perspective, and a spiritual one too. Storms are part of life, a critical component to our ongoing existence.

It is comforting to me to know that I am never going to face them alone.