Not long after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, my son Franklin and I toured some of the most devastated areas and talked with many of the survivors. Like you, most of them had lost everything, and I could barely imagine what they had experienced.

I couldn’t tell them why God had allowed such a terrible tragedy to take place—because I honestly didn’t know. But I could tell them the same thing I would tell you: God knew what had happened to them, and He cared for them and wanted to help them. Even when nothing seems to be going right, God hasn’t abandoned us, and we can trust Him to see us through the hard times. The Bible’s words are true: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22).

Commit your life—and your future—to Christ. Then ask Him to give you the strength you need to meet this challenge. Don’t dwell on the past or on what you lost; dwell instead on the future, and on what God has for you in the days and years ahead. It isn’t easy, I know—but “The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made” (Psalm 145:13).

In addition, take time to thank God for all that you do have. You could have lost your family—but you didn’t. Most of all you have hope, both for this life and the life to come.