The Key is on the Box!
“When you pass through the waters, 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.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV
It was January 2020. After a very blessed New Year's Eve with our children in Maui, I arrived in Brazil and was surprised by one of the biggest floods in the last one hundred years in my hometown.
I was born and raised in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, ES, the home town of Roberto Carlos as it is better known. Our home has always been on the banks of the Itapemirim river. My family experienced many floods. My sister and I knew this process very well.
On January, 25th, in the early hours of the morning, the river started to flood. I was monitoring and warning my nephews who were out of town which for me would have been just another flood, but it was unexpectedly different this time.
Water had never entered the house where I had been living for almost sixty years; however, as a precaution, I asked my cousin to take me to his apartment. In just two hours after I left home, water started to enter my house, and reached five and a half feet inside the house. I lost absolutely everything I owned including all my family photos. The magnitude of this flood was overwhelming. It destroyed the entire city center, banks, stores, shopping malls, and everything in its path.
The view of the Street in front of my house
The most interesting thing, however, was the peace I experienced during those days. I remember talking to several people who had also lost everything. I was giving words of comfort, and then they said to me, “It's easy for you to talk like that, because you haven't lost anything.” My cousin replied, “You’re wrong, she lost everything too. She is taking refuge in our apartment.”
I could only thank God for having the opportunity to leave home just in time because I know that we have the ability to rebuild material things over time.
When I returned to my house after the waters receded, everything was destroyed and a dirty mess.
The mess inside my house after the flood
Jesus began to minister to my heart saying, Daughter, the physical world is parallel to the spiritual world. This mess, disorder, dirt, and destruction that you are seeing in your home today, represents the situation you found yourself in before you had an encounter with me. I cleansed you, forgave you, and restored you. Today you are on this journey of relationship with me that enables you to focus on what is truly eternal and not temporary.
I brought you here exactly at this time, so that you could light the path for other people who need to see my light through your eyes.
A few days later, I asked a dry cleaner to come by the house and pick up the muddy clothes. I asked my gardener to keep the house key and deliver the bags of clothes to me. I told him to leave the key in the mailbox, and I would get it when I returned. The next morning I went to get the key and opened the mail door, but I found nothing. I called my gardener and he assured me he left the key there. As I closed the garage door, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Look for the key on the outside of the mailbox by looking through the front flap.” I immediately obeyed, and when I lifted the flap what did I see leaning against the inner door of the box? The key!
I breathed a sigh of relief and started driving to my destination. Immediately the Holy Spirit began to speak to me, “Daughter, did you see that the key was inside the mailbox the whole time? You were the one who couldn't see it because you were looking through a blind spot. Remember this illustration well because it applies to all circumstances in life. There is no problem that you or other people will face that does not already have a solution in heaven. The key in this case is the solution, ask me how I see the situation you are going through, and I will show you a new way of looking at the problem, from another angle, where you will find the redeeming solution you were looking for.”
I was stunned by the simplicity and depth of this revelation and I asked, “My God, how do you see this flood that I just experienced? I was at peace the whole time, but is there anything else I need to know to see the situation from your perspective?” He answered, “Yes, this flood destroyed everything you owned, and I saw that once again you are not attached to these things. “I am preparing you for a new season in your life that you never imagined achieving. It’s like a page in your book of life being turned to start something new, beautiful, and powerful.” I could only say, “Amen, amen, here I am.”
Once again I had to leave my apartment in a hurry. This time I was in Maui, in the early hours of August 9th, 2023. There was a threat of an imminent fire. An alarm went off for the whole city. When I arrived at my cousins' house to spend the night, I took a picture of the fire that was approaching. That's when I realized the size of the flames!
The huge fire that happened on Maui, we need to evacuate our condo on August, 9th, 2023
My spirit was shaken and I couldn't sleep. I recited this verse in my mind:
“When you pass through the waters, 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.” Isaiah 43:2 NIV
I prayed, “Lord, I have passed through the waters of rivers many times, and now the test is with a fire, but I choose to trust in you. If I need to go through losses again, my eyes are fixed on you. Only the Lord is my refuge and fortress, my unshakable rock.” Then I fell asleep while thinking about being on the lap of Father God. I woke up very early and spoke to Mark, my husband, “Let's see what the situation is like at our apartment.” When we got there everything was fine; we hadn't been hit by the fire.
The situation on Maui is very sad. The historic city of Lahaina was completely destroyed, but the love, solidarity, and feeling of unity that the people of Maui have experienced is impressive, like never before.
Perhaps at this moment you are going through trials of fire or overwhelming floods, but know that God is always good, and if you invite Him, He goes through difficulties with you and will take you to a place of safety. Remember that He already has a solution in heaven for every problem we face. Jesus told us that “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” Psalm 107:28-29 ESV
Diândria Coimbra Rich
Mentor and Spiritual Shepherd
CEO Transformation By Grace
Instagram @diandriarich
Facebook @diandriacoimbrarich