The Letter That Arrived Before the Storm

In September 2017, three days before Hurricane Irma slammed into Naples, Florida, Maria Gutierrez found an envelope in her mailbox from her estranged father in Puerto Rico. Inside was a short note: "I have already arranged everything you will need. The house on Elm Street is paid off. The pantry is stocked. The generator is fueled. Go there now. I am coming to be with you soon."

Maria had barely spoken to her father in years. She had doubted his love, questioned whether he even thought of her anymore. But here was proof — he had been preparing for her long before the crisis arrived. He had seen the storm coming when she hadn't even checked the forecast. Every provision was already in place, waiting for her to simply walk through the door.

When Paul writes to the church at Corinth, he opens not with a scolding but with a staggering reminder: you have already been given everything you need. Grace has been given. Spiritual gifts have been lavished. The testimony of Christ has been confirmed among you. You lack nothing.

And the God who called you into fellowship with His Son — the One who saw every storm on your horizon before you felt the first gust of wind — He is faithful. Not "He might be faithful" or "He was faithful once." He is faithful, present tense, active and unceasing. The provisions are already in place. The Father has already made arrangements. Your only task is to trust the One who called you and walk through the door.