A Note from Todd Haymans | July 31, 2026

This week, in anticipation of my father-in-law’s upcoming retirement, my mother-in-law asked me to pick up a deer blind as a gift for him. I examined it carefully. It was solid, heavy, and well-built.

The guys at the shop helped me load it into the back of my truck, tie it down, and secure it before I headed down the road to deliver it.

I left feeling pretty confident. In my mind, that deer blind wasn’t going anywhere.

Knowing I was carrying a heavy load, I kept checking my rearview mirror to make sure everything was good. Then, in a matter of seconds on Interstate 20, I kid you not, that deer blind flew right off the back of my truck onto the shoulder of the road.

The very thing I thought was secure quickly became unstable. What looked immovable was carried away by forces I couldn’t see until they exposed what had never truly been anchored.

Even though the emotions and embarrassment have worn off, I can’t stop thinking about that image.

How many things in my life have I assumed were secure simply because they looked strong?

How often have I mistaken weight for stability?

God’s Word repeatedly warns us that there is a profound difference between what seems secure and what is actually anchored in Christ.

Jesus closed the Sermon on the Mount with a story about two builders. Both built houses and both went through a storm. From a distance, the houses probably looked similar. The difference wasn’t visible until the wind came.

The storm didn’t create the foundation but revealed it.

That night on I-20 felt like a storm!

Not because I lost a deer blind, but because God exposed something deeper in my heart. I was reminded how quickly my understanding of peace depended on everything going according to my plan.

We often think faith is tested when we intentionally step into difficult circumstances. But sometimes faith is tested when ordinary obedience meets unexpected disappointment.

I was doing something good and yet things still went wrong.

That reality confronts one of the most subtle lies many believers carry: If I’m doing the right thing, God will make everything work out the way I expect.

Well, Scripture never promises that.

The disciples obeyed Jesus and got into the boat because He told them to. Then the storm came.

Joseph obeyed God, and prison followed.

Daniel remained faithful, and the lions still came.

Obedience is not a contract guaranteeing comfort.

It is an invitation to deeper trust.

Perhaps the greatest lesson wasn’t that the blind blew away.

Perhaps it was that God lovingly exposed how easily my heart clings to outcomes instead of Him.

Isaiah reminds us,

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Perfect peace isn’t found in secured circumstances. It is found in a perfectly trustworthy Savior.Peace has a name, and His name is Jesus!

The wind that carried away that deer blind became a picture of the winds God sometimes allows in our lives. They strip away our false securities. They expose our hidden idols. They remind us that anything built merely on human strength—even something that appears solid—is vulnerable.

But there is one thing no wind can carry away.

No disappointment can loosen our place in Christ.

No unexpected loss can remove us from the Father’s hand.

No failure can outlast His grace.

Hebrews 6:19 says “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...”

The enemy wants us to interpret unexpected loss as evidence that God has abandoned us but the Holy Spirit invites us to see it as an opportunity to discover where our confidence has quietly shifted.

Sometimes God allows what is temporary to be shaken so that what is eternal becomes our greatest treasure.

God showed me that my life is safest not when everything is tied down exactly as I planned, but when my heart is anchored to the One whom no storm, no wind, and no disappointment can ever move.

Right beside you, 

Todd Haymans

Here are some upcoming opportunities for you to consider!

Join us for Multiply, where leaders from every campus come together to connect, grow, multiply, and celebrate what God is doing across our church family. Whether you serve in Kids, Students, Women’s, Missions, Español, Safety, Adults, or Guest Services, this night is designed with you in mind.

LOCATION: Tyler Campus
DATE: Sunday, August 9
TIME: 4:00 PM
MEAL: Fajita Dinner

Please register HERE and come expecting a meaningful time of worship, prayer, encouragement, and practical equipping

CHILDCARE:

We’re looking forward to an incredible evening together!

If you have recently joined our church or are considering church membership, this class is for you! Starting Point is designed to give you a better picture of who we are as a church family. Together, we want you to have a clear understanding of our mission, vision, and values here at Green Acres Baptist Church — and help you discover how you can get connected.

This is a free brunch, and you’ll hear directly from our staff about the history of Green Acres, what we believe, and the next steps to plug into the life of our church.

For families with children (birth–elementary), childcare is available through Kids’ Ministry — just check them in at the Kids' Atrium when you arrive.

Please register HERE and join us Sunday, August 23 @ 9:30am

Fall Friendship Dinner is a highlight of the year! It is an evening of enrichment, encouragement, and challenging messages from great speakers. We have one for every campus:

Espanol Campus – September 10th
Tyler Campus – September 15th
Flint Campus – September 17th

6:00-8:30
Cost: $25 childcare provided
Register atwww.greenacreswomen.org
Or call 903.525.1141