Tag Archives: storms

On the Other Side of the Storm

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Storms, like most natural phenomena, carry their fair share of beauty… the dancing breezes, showers of raindrops, brilliant displays of flashing light, and commanding rumbles of thunder.  In Florida, our summers are known for daily doses of thunderstorms.  Most of the time, it’s a manageable inconvenience that we weather our way through (pun intended!) knowing the sunshine will chase away the remnants of the storm soon enough.  But sometimes those storms are not inconsequential and are not quickly followed by the sunshine.  

If you have lived more than a decade or two, you are well aware that life carries storms much like the Florida skies.  Some storms are intense yet brief and are quickly followed by smooth sailing. Other storms leave us feeling marooned on an island of pain and confusion, wondering if we will ever feel soul-healing sunshine again. 

As I look back on my journey, there are several distinct times that I remember feeling very storm-ravaged by life’s circumstances.  During those times, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me and I was flat on my back wondering where it had all gone wrong.  If that’s where you are today, I want to encourage you!  There is a clear horizon on the other side of the storm!  Keep moving forward, moment by moment, day by day, knowing that you WILL come through this storm and you will have a story to tell!

In Mark 4, we read the account of Jesus and His disciples taking a boat trip.  When they were in the middle of the lake a violent storm whipped the boat around and the disciples were sure that death was upon them so they ran to wake Jesus.  “Teacher, Teacher, wake up! Don’t you care that we are going to die?”  Jesus brought perfect calm in the midst of the storm,  then turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?”1 They were awe-struck!

In the midst of this storm, the disciples got a revelation!  They encountered the truth that this Jesus was no ordinary man. He wielded power over the wind and waves!  When they crossed over to the other side, their minds were eager to see more evidence of who this amazing Teacher was.  AND they had a story to tell!  Two chapters later, we see Jesus sending them out to preach and to demonstrate the power that they had seen in action.

What does this storm story bring to your stormy situation?  Be encouraged!  Your storm isn’t worthless.  God can take any difficult situation, even ones caused by our own choices, and bring good out of it!  Here are some proven “Storm Tips:”

Rest: Jesus, the son of man slept; but Jesus, the Son of God, never sleeps!  He is always available to you!  While He may not change your circumstances, He will calm the raging seas of confusion and doubt in your heart.  He will bring supernatural peace in the midst of chaos allowing you to rest in Him.  He is trustworthy!

Revelation: In the storm, Jesus revealed His power to the disciples up close and personal!  Storms are perfect places to encounter Jesus!  He will reveal Himself to you in new and tangible ways during the difficult times.  The best thing is, no one can take that revelation away from you!  Your new understanding of who He is becomes part of your firm foundation enabling you to stand in the midst of any storm owning your faith.

Readiness:  No storm lasts forever!  Your skies will clear and you will get to the other side of this situation.  As you embrace the process of dealing with the debris your storm has left behind (healing, forgiving, rebuilding), you will find yourself ready to go to another level of understanding and victory.  You will have a story to tell about the Storm-Stabilizer!   

Remember I mentioned those times that I had felt very storm-ravaged by life’s circumstances?  As I allowed my mind to look back and mull over those difficult times, I realized a few things that are encouraging:

  • My pain has faded as a result of forgiveness, time, and healing.
  • My understanding of the Lord as Father, Healer, Friend, and Lover of my soul is so much deeper.
  • Experience and increased faith allow me to encourage others in their storms.
  • I have stories to tell!  He has seen me through every storm to the other side!  Let’s meet for coffee some time and I’ll share one!

There is no wasted pain when we submit it to the Father!  There’s beauty… even in the midst of the storm… when you realize you’re with the Storm-Stabilizer!

On the other side of the storm, someone needs to hear your story.  Be alert and ready to be used by the Lord to help someone else weather their storm!

Live Loved,

P.S. Please comment and share if this encouraged you! Blessings!

1Mark 4:40 The Passion Translation

Walking On Water

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“You need to get out of the boat and start walking on the water!”

Wait…. I need to what?

It was one of those “valley times” in my life.  I was trying so hard to trust that the Lord was at work in my circumstances.  But quite honestly, I really didn’t fully trust He could handle it all for me.  My mouth was saying, “I trust You,” but my hands were gripped tight to the helm still trying to make life work out the way I felt it should.

 

Trusting the Lord explicitly had always been a struggle for me.  I’d known it down deep for a long time, but I’d managed to keep that knowledge tucked away in my heart until the time when I couldn’t anymore.  As security began to be stripped away, the truth surfaced.  And the Lord whispered in my ear, “It’s time to deal with this.”

Over and over in Scripture, we are presented with the understanding that God is a Father1.  Isaiah 9:6 declares that He is our Everlasting Father! For those with a fabulous relationship with their earthly father, this presents a ready connection enabling them to grab ahold of God as an amazing Heavenly Father.   Unfortunately, there are far too many whose earthly father created an unhealthy understanding of what fatherhood is…  and that image is transferred to our Heavenly Father, unfairly.

I loved my dad and I know he loved me.  He loved the Lord too and carried an anointing to teach on his life.  However, he was human and like me, imperfect.  Because he was a diabetic, managing his sugar was an issue.  Many times throughout my growing up years, his sugar imbalances caused mood swings, an explosive temper, and often irrational responses to situations.   Those experiences led me to believe that even though God loved me, He also could be moody, hard to please, and impatient with my failures. Untrustworthy.

I can imagine what you’re thinking…  when I grew in my faith, I should have known that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  I should understand that God was not like my dad. I should’ve grasped that God loves me unconditionally, right?!

     Head knowledge rarely becomes heart knowledge without experience opening the door.

During this valley journey, I asked a trusted friend to pray with me.  After our prayer time, she dropped a truth bomb, “You need to get out of the boat and start walking on the water!  You need to let go of trying to control and stand back, trusting God to do His work.”

As my mind processed the idea, I came to the place where I couldn’t shove down the trust struggle anymore.  I laid it all out on the table and looked up at my Heavenly Father… who already knew all about it… and asked Him what He wanted me to do.  In the still of that moment, He showed me where I needed to let go.  I didn’t wait, I didn’t waiver, I did what I knew He was directing me to do that very evening.  I let go of the wheel in the midst of my storm and I stepped out of the boat.

I’d like to say it was easy, but it wasn’t.  I’d like to say that the storm stopped immediately, but it didn’t.  I’d like to say that I felt totally exhilarated, but I didn’t.

However, I learned that when I keep my eyes on Jesus, the storm won’t defeat me!  I learned that He IS trustworthy!  He is not moody, or inconsistent, or grumpy.  He loves me so deeply that there is nothing I can do to change that…  And He never left me, especially in the midst of my storm!

Because I trusted in Him, He brought me victory on the other side of that storm!

Recently, NeedtoBreathe came out with a song called, “Walking on Water.” How this song speaks to me!  It reminds me of my journey learning to trust the Lord, unconditionally.  There’s no turnin’ back!

Live Loved,

Please comment and share!

1Isaiah 63:16, Psalm 68:5, Psalm 89:6, Romans 1:7, Galatians 4:6-7

Standing in the Storm

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“Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious.]” Ephesians 6:13 AMP

As the crisis of Hurricane Irma bears down on us, the manic news reports flash everywhere and the panicked purchasers wipe the shelves clean of storm necessities.  Before long, even the calmest person can feel the rise of stress and worry choking out the confidence that God truly is in control.

As I struggled with this rising fear of calamity, I felt the Lord whisper in my ear, “Having done all else, stand firm.”  Just minutes ago, my family and I walked around our property, declaring trees will stay put, commanding angels to stand guard over board-less windows, speaking a shield over our vehicles, and praying a hedge of safety around our chickens.   Now, I sit here, truly having done all I can think of and can manage to do with what limited supplies are available.

Breathing deeply, I choose to embrace peace that passes all understanding.  My confidence is not in my preparations or the piles of supplies.  My confidence is in my Faithful Father.  He has promised me that no matter what comes my way, He will cause all my life’s circumstances~the good, the bad, and the ugly~ to flow together for my good because I love Him and He loves me!

Standing firm is not a passive stance that bears the lackadaisical attitude of an amusement park attendee.  Rather, it is a purposeful stand.  When we stand firm, we stand in expectancy.  We stand ready.

There is purpose and power in our stand.  We stand on truth, we stand in hope, and we stand believing that God’s Kingdom will come and His will be done in our current situation.  This faith stand declares emphatically that we trust our Dad… No.Matter.What!

In our lives, storms will come!   Isaiah 43 reminds us:

“But now, this is what the Lord says—
He who created you, Jacob,
He who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze”

Note this: When you pass through the waters… when you walk through the fire… it’s not a question of if, but when.

Your storm may seem overwhelming right now… turn to Him.  Grab ahold of His beard and look deep into His eyes!  He loves you.  When you climb into His arms, you will find that deep inner peace your heart desires!  In fact, you will find yourself planted right smack in the center of where God wanted you to be!  His plans are never to harm us; rather, His plans our purposefully and intricately woven to give us an incredible future!

Let the storm rage around you!  But stand firm in the knowledge that God, your God, is in control.  Wait in expectancy and hope for Him to give you strength and direction.  Stand declaring His goodness and faithfulness.  Watch Him come through for you with His mighty right hand!  He loves you SO MUCH that He will work on your behalf when you submit your life to Him.

Dig deeper:  Jeremiah 29:11-13, Ephesians 6:10-20

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Live Loved,