Standing in the Gap: Finding Jesus in the Eye of the Hattiesburg Tornado

Hattiesburg MS Tornado testimonies and ministry

     

The wind doesn't just howl when a tornado is on top of you; it screams with a mechanical fury that sounds like a thousand freight trains tearing through your living room. This past weekend, that scream echoed through Hattiesburg and Petal, Mississippi, leaving behind a trail of splintered lumber and shattered lives. I was sitting at home, less than two hours away, feeling that familiar tug on my spirit. You know that feeling—the one where the Holy Bible stops being a book on a shelf and starts being a fire in your bones.

We live in a world that is desperately hurting, and often, we think we need a grand theological degree or a massive platform to make a difference. But the pain point I see most often in the Body of Christ is a sense of paralysis. We see the devastation—whether it’s a physical storm or a spiritual one—and we feel unequipped. We ask, "What can I possibly do?" We get stuck in the "Problem" and the "Agitation," watching the news and feeling helpless, while Jesus is standing right there, beckoning us to be His hands and feet.

The solution isn't found in waiting for a perfect plan; it's found in the relationship. If we have a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus, we’re going to be familiar with the truth that His sheep know His voice and follow Him. This past weekend, we didn't wait for a sign from heaven written in the clouds; we packed up the "Holy Roller" and drove straight into the disaster zone. What we found there wasn't just destruction—it was a powerful reminder that when life knocks you to your knees, you are in the perfect position for prayer.

Main Message

We packed the car with what we call our "ministry kits." We have a habit of keeping clothes we can no longer wear, snacks, Bibles, gospel tracts, and hygiene products ready to go. I get excited about the bargains, honestly. I can find ten toothbrushes for a dollar at a flea market, or buy large bottles of shampoo and break them down into smaller travel sizes. It’s about being a good steward so we can give liberally. As the KJV says, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 KJV).

As we drove into the Hattiesburg area, the GPS was struggling. Roads were closed, and debris was everywhere. We ended up at a roadblock, talking to a gentleman who pointed us toward a multi-purpose center where the Red Cross had set up. Sometimes you're led by a specific prophetic word, and sometimes it’s just a "no-brainer" opportunity to share the love of Jesus. As this man spoke, I felt that click in my spirit—that confirmation that this was exactly where we were supposed to be.

When we arrived, I saw a man sitting in a chair outside, staring at his smartphone. It was a beautiful day, despite the chaos nearby. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me: That’s the guy. We approached him, shared a goodie bag, and started talking. The moment you bring Jesus into a conversation, the atmosphere shifts. Jesus said, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20 KJV).

That man’s face lit up as we prayed. Many people in the Bible Belt think prayer is just a laundry list of requests, but I like to teach people to listen. We’ll say, "Holy Spirit, just show them what You’re talking to them about," and then we stay quiet for a minute. It’s amazing to watch someone’s head pop up with a look of realization. They suddenly grasp that the "thought" they had was actually the Creator of the Universe speaking to them.

Inside the shelter, the air was thick with the scent of damp clothes and exhaustion. I met a man who looked like he was at the end of his rope. He told me about his family and his wife who was on oxygen. We didn't do a "hit and run" prayer. We sat. We listened. We shared testimonies of how Jesus had brought us through our own fires. I reminded him that sometimes these desperate situations drive us closer to the Lord. We talked about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They weren't spared from the furnace, but Jesus was right there in the fire with them.

We encountered another man outside—I'll keep his name private—who told me the most incredible story. He was staying at the Salvation Army when the tornado hit. He told me he was dreaming of a freight train. He woke up to the sound of the world ending. The ceiling was ripped off the building, and he was suddenly surrounded by water, looking up at the sky where a roof used to be. Not a scratch on him. He was running from addiction, trying to change his environment, but I told him what I always say: "You can't just run away from hell; you have to run to Jesus."

Personal Reflections

There were moments during this trip where I felt the friction of the world. At one point, we were inside the shelter with our "#Jesus" shirts on, ministering to a woman who was bedridden and feeling terrible. Her husband was so excited for us to pray for her. But as we were speaking life and faith into her, an official came over and told us we had to leave.

In the past, I might have gotten frustrated or argued. But Jesus corrected my heart long ago on this. If one door closes, you just look for the one He has opened wide. We didn't need a building to do ministry. We walked back outside and found even more people hungry for a word of hope.

I learned again that my "gospel to the lukewarm" is so needed. So many people "honor Him with their lips," but their hearts are far from Him. They have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof. When I see a man who survived a tornado with nothing but a smile and a cross around his neck, it reminds me of what truly matters. He lost everything, yet he was beaming because he knew Jesus had spared his life. It’s like Job saying, The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21 KJV).

Biblical References

The core of our message that weekend was built on the reality of a living, speaking God. We cannot afford to be deaf to the Spirit in these times. The Bible tells us:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 KJV).

If we aren't listening, we miss the warnings. One young man told me his phone gave him a tornado warning, but he didn't pay it much mind at first. How often does the Holy Spirit give us a "warning" in our spirit—a check, a nudge, a whisper—and we ignore it because we're too busy?

We also dealt heavily with the concept of forgiveness. I met people who were struggling with physical ailments, and we had to go back to the words of Jesus in Matthew:

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses (Matthew 18:35 KJV).

Spiritual healing and physical peace often start with clearing the deck of unforgiveness. You can find more about this journey of spiritual sight in my book OPEN YOUR EYES. We have to see past the debris of the natural world to the spiritual realities underneath.

Key Takeaways

• Compassion is a Catalyst: Jesus moved when He had compassion on the multitude. Our ministry should flow from love, not just duty.
• The Voice of God is Present: God is still speaking today. We must learn to distinguish His voice from the noise of the world.
• Relationship Over Religion: It isn't enough to confess Jesus with your lips; He must be the Lord of your life and your daily decisions.
• Running to Jesus: Changing your location won't fix a heart problem. You must run toward Christ, not just away from your troubles.
• Prayer is a Two-Way Street: Don't just talk at God; give Him space to speak back to you during your prayer time.

Conclusion and Call to Action

As we drove away from the devastation in Hattiesburg, passing through neighborhoods where trees were snapped like toothpicks, I was struck by the resilience of those who know the Lord. The storm is real, the damage is heavy, but the Grace of God is heavier.

If you feel like you're in a "tornado zone" in your own life—whether it's addiction, financial ruin, or a spiritual drought—I want to encourage you to stop running and start listening. Dig deeper into the Word. If you’ve been "lukewarm," today is the day to catch fire.

I invite you to head over to ConradRocks.net and check out more of our podcasts and posts. If you're struggling with spiritual warfare or fear, my book Overcoming Night Terror can help you find the peace that passes all understanding.

Let's not be the people who hear the warning and ignore it. Let's be the sheep who know the Shepherd's voice. God is speaking—are you listening?

Please share this post with someone who needs a reminder that Jesus is in the midst of their storm. God bless you, and keep digging deeper!

Action Items

• Audit Your Listening: Set a timer for five minutes today. Sit in silence and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Write down the first scripture or thought that comes to mind.
• Prepare a "Ministry Kit": Keep a few bottles of water and a Gospel tract in your car. Look for one person this week who looks like they need a "cup of cold water" in Jesus' name.
• Check Your Heart for Forgiveness: Ask the Lord to reveal if there is anyone you are holding a grudge against. Choose to forgive them today, out loud, by faith.
• Connect with the Community: Visit ConradRocks.net and subscribe to the podcast so you can stay encouraged in your walk with the biblical Jesus.