All signs point to being prepared. From natural disasters to terrorism, we feel convicted to make our families less vulnerable to some unthinkable event. But so many of us have not taken basic steps to greatly increase the preparedness of our families. Why not? What’s preventing you from making your family more prepared?

Do not be afraid; you’re not alone. According to FEMA, the majority of Americans are unprepared for a disaster. To make matters worse, 80% of Americans live in areas that have experienced previous disasters within the last decade. So we should feel called to take action but we resist.

There are a myriad of reasons why most Americans avoid preparedness. Below are 7 “sinful” excuses why Americans do not take basic steps in becoming more prepared:

“It won’t happen to me.” This excuse sounds great and puts minds at ease. It makes sense. We deny the worst ideas of some horrible situation for our families but this excuse is a false pretense. The odds are we will not be in a car accident tomorrow but we still wear seatbelts. We should be ready because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. “I Don’t Have Enough Time.” This may be my favorite excuse. We’re all busy. Life passes us by so quickly, but there is a time for everything. Increasing preparedness comes incrementally. Making one or two preparations weekly is a good way to make sound use of preparatory time. “I Don’t Have The Money.” There are thrifty ways to prepare your family for minor disasters. For starters, having a plan is free. Buying a few extra cans of food and storing a few gallons of water will not break the family budget. Having supplies on hand for a disaster will be more satisfying than a few extra dollars for a latte. “The Government Will Save Me.” There are finite amounts of resources. Governments do have contingency plans but nothing is guaranteed. Also, there are many infamous disasters where the government’s responses fell short of expectations, e.g., Hurricane Katrina. Relying on the government likely is not the best plan. “I’ll Rely On Others.” This excuse is wrong on many levels. I admit, I know what my neighbors could do for me in a time of crisis. I also wonder how I could contribute to my neighbors in need. It would be a great feeling to be able to bear the burden of others while keeping your own family secure during an unfortunate disaster. “I Don’t Know What to Do.” This is the information age. This excuse just doesn’t fly. At the tip of our fingers, more knowledge about preparedness could be had in seconds. Avoiding a disaster because of ignorance is easy. More knowledge and understanding will put us all in a better position of preparedness. “I Live By Faith.” Although “God helps those that help themselves” is not actually scriptural, it’s a good adage for preparedness. Also, everyone knows the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. This was the ultimate story of preparedness and how we should apply our faith.

These are just 7 excuses referenced and more can be found here.

I confess: time and laziness are my unprepared “sins.” What are yours?

Please share your responses below!