How to Be Thankful When Life Sends a Flood
Who in their right mind would thank God for a flood that destroyed their home and left them homeless? Shockingly . . . this girl.
In 2022, I found myself in a transitional season. I had been divorced for a while, raising my children mostly on my own—part of a much bigger story—and trying to navigate an unclear future. At the time, I was working full-time in ministry at a church, in the process of becoming a pastor, and dating the man I believed I would one day marry, even though we lived an hour apart.
The Christmas season in ministry was exhausting, especially while juggling my kids’ schedules. I tried to carve out a brief break for myself before diving into another round of Christmas programs. So, I stepped away from home for just two days—right in the middle of an unusual four-degree freeze in Arkansas.
The night was beautiful—crystal clear, with stars glimmering—but bitterly cold. As we turned onto my street, my significant other glanced at me and said, “We’ve got to get you out of here,” knowing everything my kids and I had been through.
When we pulled into the driveway, my 14-year-old son ran ahead to unlock the door. Within seconds, I heard him scream, “Mom! Mom! Oh my goodness, MOM!”
My heart dropped. Panic surged. I ran to him, only to see water gushing from the front door. Then, I heard a crashing sound—like a waterfall—from the back of the house. I stepped inside and found myself ankle-deep in freezing water.
The pipes in the attic had burst. Most of the house was lost. The rebuild would be long and painful. We had no family in Arkansas. Just like that, we were homeless.
Provision Meets Fear
As the water finally stopped pouring in, I heard a phone call in the distance.
“Mom, how do you feel about three more for Christmas?”
My person had called his parents, asking if they could take in me and my kids. Without hesitation, their arms were open wide. And that’s when I saw God begin to work in ways only He could.
Every fear I had was met with provision. What felt like hopeless loss became an unexpected doorway to blessing. For the first time, I began to understand the truth of Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
That flood didn’t just wash away a house—it opened the way forward. It softened my heart, shifted my perspective, and deepened my faith.
My person’s father became the spiritual dad I never had. We spent nights talking about Scripture, reading books on hope, and praying together. Just a few months later, he went home to be with the Lord. I wouldn’t trade those four months for anything.
The flood opened more than a home—it opened an aisle. I married my best friend, and as we stood together, we could look back and see that what first felt like devastation was actually God’s transformation. It wasn’t just about rebuilding a house; it was about building a family, with Christ at the center.
This is just one of the many moments in my life where I’ve learned to be grateful even for the hardest parts of my story. Sometimes, the very things that feel like they’ve stolen everything are the places where God does His most beautiful work.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
– Proverbs 3:5–6
That flood could’ve been another heartbreak. But it became a holy turning point. I’ve learned to see pain differently now—it can reshape not just our circumstances, but our perspective too.
So, wherever you are today, whatever storm you’re facing . . . can I encourage you? Look for the parting waters in your own story. Trust Him—even when you feel like you’re drowning. When we truly press in, He will always make a way.
Praying blessings over you, my friend.
Meet Deborah France
Deborah France, or simply Deb, is the founder of a ministry devoted to reaching the broken and unchurched with hope and compassion. A natural encourager and safe place for others, she walks alongside people in their hardest seasons—helping them see that healing is possible and stories can be rewritten. Now living her own second-chance life in a beautifully blended (and perfectly imperfect) family with four kids, Deb knows firsthand that grace shows up in the mess—and she’s passionate about helping others believe that too.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
