February in Central Texas is usually our last cold snap before spring warmth and bluebonnets arrive. But this February, we were blindsided by a winter storm unlike anything we’d ever experienced.

At first, it was fun—snow fell, covering our yard in fluffy white, and our dog Zoey (a German Shepherd-Chow mix) did zoomies like she was born for it. We had a snowball fight, drank hot cocoa, and took it all in stride.

But then came the ice. And the outages. And the water stoppage.

Texas Snowmageddon: Winter Storm Uri

Power flickered off and on. Water stopped running. We were melting snow in pots to flush toilets and rationing meals so we could make groceries last. Every time the power came back on, we scrambled: quick showers, microwave meals, and charging every device we could.

At first, it was easy to stick to the plan, but it wasn’t long before stress and weariness was felt by everyone.

I was reminded how quickly our confidence can crack when things don’t just go wrong once—but repeatedly. It’s easy to feel strong at first, but harder to stay hopeful when the next unexpected hit comes. And then another.

God is Always a Steady Presence in Crisis

That week, God gently reminded me that He is our unshakable source of strength, not our conveniences. Not power grids or stocked shelves or digital comforts. When everything else fails, He doesn’t.

Scripture tells us,

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1 (ESV)

Even when the lights go out and our plans fall apart, His presence remains steady. His help is not delayed. He doesn’t wait for us to have it all together before stepping in. He is our refuge—even when the world feels like it’s breaking down around us.

And yes, we cheered when warm weather finally came. But even more than 65 degrees, I was grateful for the reminder that God doesn’t roll in and out like power surges. He is faithful, constant, and near—even in the coldest seasons.

Disclosure: Scriptures marked ESV are taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV): Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. Feature photo and other photos in this post are property of Angie Vallejo and may not be used without permission.