Rotterdam: Rebuilt on Purpose

A couple of days ago -- we left London via rail (what an enjoyable way to make our next destination to Dover, England).

We boarded the cruise ship, the Holland America Nieux Statendam Ship. It will be our home for the next 15-days.

Yesterday our excursion took us through Rotterdam, The Netherlands -- a city unlike London’s historic beauty of ornate buildings, royal landmarks, and centuries-old streets.

Rotterdam tells a different story.

During World War II, Hitler’s forces bombed the city center on May 14, 1940. In about fifteen minutes, much of historic Rotterdam was completely leveled.

Homes, churches, schools, stores -- gone. Thousands were left homeless. The city was wounded deeply.

But here is what stirred my heart -- Rotterdam did not stay in ashes.

After the war, the people made a bold decision. Rather than rebuild everything exactly as it had been, they looked forward.

Their vision became “light, air, and space.” Wide streets. Open plazas. Modern buildings. Strong lines. Creative architecture. A city once crushed by destruction began to rise again with purpose.

As our bus moved through the streets, I kept thinking of Isaiah 59:19 -- “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

Isn’t that what God does?

The enemy may come in with loss, fear, sickness, grief, betrayal, war, or disappointment. He may try to flatten our hope and leave us standing in rubble. But God raises up a standard. He raises courage. He raises faith. He raises people who refuse to let devastation have the final word.

Rotterdam reminded me that rebuilding may not look like returning to what was. Sometimes God builds something new -- stronger, wiser, roomier, brighter.

Jesus told a parable about servants who were faithful with what they had been given. To the faithful servant, the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

Maybe that is our call, too.

When life crumbles, we don’t sit forever in the ashes. We grieve, yes. We remember, yes. But then -- by God’s grace -- we rise. We rebuild. We carry on. We become living proof that destruction is not the end of the story.

Rotterdam stands today as a testimony.

The enemy came in like a flood.

But God still raises up a standard.

Rotterdam reminded me -- what is destroyed can still be rebuilt. With God, ashes are never the end of the story.

So, let's stop the hate, the anger, the loses AND let's be those good and faithful servants who keep carrying on -- building stronger -- loving longer!

#LoveWinsAgain #buildit #lifeBrandNew