“You’ve never seen it miss this house, and miss that house, and come after you!”

Those are the words of Jo in Twister. She wasn’t talking about addiction, but if you’ve lived in a family touched by it, you know that line hits close to home. Addiction has a way of feeling like a tornado…skipping over one person, one family, one generation, only to land with devastating force right where you are.

In the movie, Jo chased storms. She studied them. She ran toward them when everyone else ran away. Why? Because she had experienced the destruction firsthand. She knew what it was like to stand in the path of something so unpredictable, so destructive, and feel powerless.

In our world today, there are countless “storm chasers” in families. Parents, siblings, spouses, and children, running after their loved ones caught in the storm of addiction. We watch from a distance when it’s calm, and we run headlong into the chaos when the winds pick up, praying we can pull them out before the funnel cloud touches down.

Addiction is a storm. It doesn’t just damage the one caught inside, it uproots families, destroys trust, and leaves debris scattered in every direction. But here’s the hope…while we are chasing them in desperation, God is chasing them in redemption.

God doesn’t run from the storm. Psalm 18:16 says, “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.” Even in the spinning winds of addiction, He can reach right in, pick them up, and set them on solid ground.

Where we can only love from the outside, He can transform from the inside. Where we can only hold on to hope, He is the Hope. Where we grow weary from chasing, He never tires. He is the ultimate storm chaser.

Maybe you’re reading this today, exhausted from running after someone you love. You’ve prayed until you’ve run out of words. You’ve tried interventions, tough love, endless phone calls, sleepless nights. You’ve watched the storm skip over others but land squarely in your family.

Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop believing. But remember…God is in the chase. You are not alone in this fight. His pursuit is perfect, His timing is flawless, and His power is unmatched.

In Joel 2:25, God makes a promise: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” The storm may take a lot, but it cannot take what God can restore.

So yes, addiction is a storm. But our Savior is the calm in the eye, the rescue after the wreckage, and the One who chases harder than any of us ever could.

And here’s something else you need to know…God isn’t just the One who rescues from the storm, He is also the healer of the storm’s damage. Addiction is not just a pattern of choices; it is an affliction that wounds the mind, body, and spirit. But Psalm 147:3 tells us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

When the winds finally die down, the debris can feel overwhelming….broken trust, shattered relationships, the heavy weight of regret. Yet God is able to restore what was lost and make new what was destroyed. He gives strength for the weary, peace for the anxious, courage for the fearful, and forgiveness for the shame-filled. He can mend the hearts of those who were in the storm and those who were chasing it.

The healing He offers isn’t just survival…it’s transformation. He doesn’t just patch up the cracks; He rebuilds on a solid foundation that cannot be shaken. And the same hands that reach into the chaos to rescue are the hands that gently, patiently, and completely heal.

Trust the ultimate storm chaser….He’s never lost a rescue yet.

And let me encourage you…if you’re still chasing the storm….keep chasing.