Peace in the Storm

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

   Strong storms packed with wind and rain are normal in Missouri. I remember one particular downpour during the first quarter of our local football game on a cool Friday evening.  Fortunately, I had an umbrella big enough to protect nearly a third of the stadium. I needed one that coordinated with my brown jacket and found one with “gold” stamped on the package. I realized after I opened it at home that it actually said “golf.”  Oh well.

     But as I sat at the game, I thought back to my first storm without the protection of my husband. He had passed away about three months before the big winds and rain hit. The electricity in my home had gone out and the darkness felt as thick as smoke as I stumbled to light candles everywhere but they did nothing to calm my fears as shingle after shingle flew off the roof and thudded like wounded birds on the lawn.

     I remember wondering “Will it always be like this? Will I always huddle on the sofa and feel so frightened of every storm that comes my way?” I knew that if he had been there, my husband would have grinned and winked and said “It’s a big one, isn’t it Nance.” and I would have been reassured instantly. But he wasn’t there nor would he be coming back so I pulled my sweater tighter around me, prayed silently, and waited for the storm to pass.

     That was several years ago but the “storms” have continued to hit with a vicious force. One “storm” was an empty propane tank on the coldest night of the year. Another was a truck that flatly refused to ever run again after I stopped at a red light. Still, another was a major financial issue that needed to be addressed immediately. And then a massive storm with a virus indiscriminately tried to sink its teeth into every person it came in contact with. Storm after storm after storm.

    Of course, we have those times of fresh air, sunshine, a view that is breathtaking and more money in the bank than bills on the kitchen counter and our hearts are at peace. But we cannot deny the inevitability in John 16:33 that just the opposite will eventually happen: unforeseen storms will blindside us and bills will pile up with an empty bank account; a health diagnosis will be cancer; a best friend will pass away.

     And what is the answer? We don’t have the power to decide exactly when to schedule a storm. And honestly, is there ever a good time to pencil in a broken arm on our calendars? Not at all. But the one constant that I have learned through life is this: God will never leave us in our storms. He stays right beside us, encouraging us and giving us strength to continue as the winds rage around us. He comforts us as He reminds us that all storms are temporary. They will blow over. We will experience relief. Even when I don’t understand the “why” in the storm. Even when my heart is broken to the point that I don’t think it can be repaired. Even then.

     May I suggest something for you to consider the next time a storm hits your life? Stand in the middle of your living room, turn your face to the Lord, and praise Him. “WHAT??” you say. Praise?? Yes. Praise Him for never leaving you. Praise Him for being in control of all things – including storms. Praise Him for having a purpose in every storm – even when you can’t see it. That is not saying you are happy and content with every storm you experience; it is saying that you will trust the One who sees what you do not. Tears of grief? Yes. But praise for never leaving you and having a plan in all things? Oh, yes. 

    We are going to be drenched again and again as storms blow into our lives but rest assured that they will also blow out of our lives as well. And the Creator of the Universe will never ever EVER leave us. I pray you feel His presence and His peace today and every day.

   Father, even when we don’t understand; when our hearts are broken into tiny pieces, even then we know you are in control and you love us. We love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

R.A.P. it up . . .

 Reflect

• Have you ever believed that the storm you experienced would last forever and the Lord would not be with you?

• Did you call on the Lord to get you through or get angry that it was happening to you?

 Apply

• When a storm hits in your life, stop, take a deep breath, and ask the Lord to make His presence known.

• Memorize the 23rd Psalm and praise the Lord in the middle of the storm. Ask prayer warriors to pray over you.

 Power

• John 16:33 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

• Psalm 23:4 (NIV) “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comport me.”

• Exodus 33:14 (NIV) “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Hurt With Me

  “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”   Matthew 26:38 (NIV)

   There are so many things I do not remember on that particular day in August. Was it hot or cool? Sunny? Cloudy? Did I have specific plans for the day? I honestly do not know. But one thing I do remember - and will never forget - is that on that day a good friend hurt with me.

   My husband had passed away suddenly an hour and a half earlier. The funeral home had just left and I was standing in the yard, reminding myself to breathe, trying to make sense of what had happened. Shocked. Confused. And hurting.

    That’s when I heard the truck barreling down our road. It turned into our yard and Mike jumped out of the truck before it had come to a complete stop. All I heard was my name repeated over and over. He didn’t say “He’s in heaven” or “It will get better with time.” What he DID do was cry with me. And share my pain. He simply hurt with me. 

   The loss of someone you love is excruciatingly hard. The heartache is palpable; being punched in the gut repeatedly would not hurt as much. Those around you see that you are hurting and as much as possible, they hurt for you. They want you to “feel better.” They want the former person you were to come back. So they feel they must say something to take the pain away.

Wonderful, precious friends - thank you for trying but there are no words to make everything better. Thank you for caring. For praying. For loving. For being concerned that you might say the wrong thing that would only add to my pain. I understand. So, instead, could I ask you to do this:

Hurt with me. Just as Mike did. Grieve with me. Allow me to grieve. When you do that, you are validating my heartache. I know you are sad for me. I know you are heartbroken for me. I love that you love me. So please, just as Mike did, simply hurt with me. 

   Father, thank you for friends who are willing to grieve with me, to hurt with me. Thank you for Jesus who understands and who loves us deeply. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever been afraid that you would say the wrong thing to someone who has lost a loved one?

• Did you consider other things that you could do for them?

Apply

• Pray pray pray over the entire family of the loved one who passed away.

• Offer hugs, food, stamps, paper products, and your presence. Be available.

Power

• Matthew 26:38 (NIV) “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

• Galatians 6:2 (NIV) “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” 

• Psalm 34:18 (NIV) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

God's Radar

 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)

    One of my favorite television shows is the Weather Channel. No, really. There is always something new popping up on the map. I love hearing about an approaching storm that is predicted to deliver snow to my community or the warning of tornadoes forming. I marvel at the radar showing rain changing to sleet and then snow within an hour. It amazes me that understanding cloud types can help determine the kind of weather to expect. 

    Granted there are times when the weather prediction is uncertain at best and it seems that the meteorologists have spun an arrow on a circle marked with different types of weather and whatever the arrow stopped on was our forecast for the day. But overall, just knowing what the radar predicts is coming next gives me a bit of confidence and security over the weather.

    I’ve always thought it would be great to have radar predictions for the storms that hit our lives, much like what we see on the weather channel. “Tomorrow there is a 90% likelihood of extreme heat as my husband and I disagree on buying a car but Tuesday looks clear.”

    Or “On Wednesday there is a 60% chance that I will lose my contacts so visibility will be low and I will need someone else to pick up the kids after school.” followed by “Thursday brings a chance of screams as I step from the shower onto the scales so Friday will find a high-pressure workout at the local gym.”

    There is something about our wanting to be in control and “predict” our circumstances that keeps many of us from trusting our Father to take care of us at all times and in everything that we face. In other words, we don’t believe that God has the power to take care of us and do what He says He can do. We don’t really trust Him. 

    . That’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it? Isaiah 26:3-4 addresses that very thing. You will have peace and strength and receive help when you trust the Lord. Not once or twice. You will be helped when you trust the Lord. Every. Single. Time.

    So what extreme heat situations are you trying to weather today? A family crisis? An alcoholic loved one? A career loss? My encouragement is to go before the Lord with the storms you are facing. Trust Him to be 100% accurate as He leads you through the storms in your life with His Godly radar.  

    Father, so many times I have tried to determine what is going to happen in my life and to fix it on my own. I trust you now to take care of me and to direct my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• When tough situations in life occur, what is the first thing that you do?

• Do you trust the Lord to handle it for you or do you try to fix it on your own?

Apply

• Look up verses in Scripture that talk about the results of trusting in the Lord.

• Memorize one verse each week and journal how that verse encouraged you.

Power

• Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV) “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.”

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Psalm 28:7 (NIV) “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”

When We Ignore Wise Advice

                     “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)   

   The temptation was too great, and I just had to try it. The reel on Instagram showed the “before” and “after” of using an undereye skin tightener. “You aren’t going to believe your eyes!” it promised. “Bags gone in 30 seconds!” it continued. The woman applying the tightener expressed surprise that it worked as well as it did! ”I wish I had bought more than one tube,” she smiled. I was hooked.

I glanced at the comments section from those who had bought and used the product. “Doesn’t work like it says. It’s a scam. Wasted my money. Don’t buy this - you will regret it!” they advised. But somehow I convinced myself that the product was real. Was it overpriced? Yes. But was it worth it if it worked? Absolutely. Fifteen minutes later, my credit card debt increased by $70.00. And so did my anticipation!

Every day I waited for the skin tightener to appear in my mailbox and I never gave another thought to the advice of those who had bought it before me.  When it arrived, I opened the package, quickly put some of the skin tightener under my eyes, and waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing happened. No tightening. No disappearance of eye bags. Nothing. And I realized it WAS a scam. An expensive scam. 

   Was I warned? Yes, several times from people who had bought the product. But did I listen? No, not at all. Why in the world not? First, I think that I wanted to find an easy way to improve how I looked so I jumped at what was offered without doing some thorough investigating. Secondly, I didn’t heed the warnings in the comments because I believed I knew better than the people who had actually bought the product and tried to use it. 

    And as I looked at the worthless cream and my credit card bill, a Scripture came to mind. Proverbs 12:15 says “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” A fool? Yes, that’s me. If I had been wise, I would have taken seriously the advice from the people who had used the product. Then something else occurred to me: this Scripture applies to more than an eye cream scam. It applies to our lives as Christians.

How many times have we made important life decisions based on OUR wisdom instead of praying, reading the Word, and consulting a strong Christian to give us wise advice and counsel? Maybe it’s about marriage issues, a prodigal child, or living with anger and unforgiveness. We all need guidance at some time in our lives to speak truth to us that is grounded in God’s Word. Jesus has the answer to every question and issue we face. 

So for me, it’s time to stop being a fool, as King Solomon wrote in Proverbs. I have decided that with the big - and sometimes small - decisions I make each day, I will pray, read the Word and, if necessary, seek wise Christian counsel.  Oh, and after 8 weeks of emails back and forth, I was able to get a refund on the scam undereye skin tightener. But best of all, I also learned an even more important lesson: never ignore wise advice. 

   

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever decided against the advice you sought from wise counsel?

• What was the result of your decision? 

Apply

• Journal decisions that you have been considering recently.

• Beside each one, consider if wise counsel is needed and if so, consult with a Christian friend to listen to you, pray, and advise. Then listen to the advice and pray. 

Power

• Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)  “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

• Proverbs 5:7 (NIV) “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

• Proverbs 14:15 (NIV) “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”

  

Where Is My Focus?

 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

   My granddaughter went downstairs to her dad’s office where he was totally focused on a project for work. “Hey Dad, is it okay if I wear this dress to church tomorrow?” Without looking up from his drawing, he replied “Sure, that’s great.”

   However as she went back upstairs and came face to face with her mother, she received a completely different reaction. “Honey, why do you have that dress on? You’ve gotten so much taller and it’s too short for you to wear.”

   But my granddaughter replied, “Mom, I just asked Dad  if I could wear it to church tomorrow and he said it was okay.” Within minutes Dad was called upstairs and, as his previous conversation with his daughter was recounted, he immediately shook his head. “I should have looked up,” he said.

   In Colossians 3:2, Paul tells the Church of Colossae that they should also look up. But his intent in telling them to keep focused “on things above” has a much deeper meaning. He knew that when we as believers focus on “things above,” we are actually focusing on Christ. And as we focus more on Him, we become more Christ-like in everything we do. 

   Now let me be the first to admit that my focus can get completely thrown off track by the “earthly things” in life. Just as my son-in-law was absorbed with his work, I can become absorbed in “stuff” in my life, like how much money and possessions I have. I can also become focused on envy or jealousy, holding a grudge smothered in anger and unforgiveness, or gossiping disguised as a “just thought you ought to know” comment.

   But when my focus switches to heaven – and to Christ – I begin to understand that “as God’s chosen people” (verse 12) I need to put on His clothing of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Instead of gossiping about the woman sitting in a church pew quietly wiping tears, I will sit quietly by her side and share her grief.

   I will find no comfort in what I own but will be able to comfort the elderly man in the care center longing for the days when he was healthy and in his home. I will trade impatience for patience with the woman at the gas station or supermarket who is having a rough day.

   Earthly things that have no value will be replaced as my mind is set on things above and on Christ. So my question is this: where should your focus be? And the answer? Look up. 

    Father, forgive me when I focus on the unimportant things of this earth and not on you. Pull me back into your presence. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever found yourself so focused on everyday situations here on earth that you lost your focus on Christ?

• Do you think it happened suddenly or was it a gradual change?

Apply

• Buy a small chalkboard and chalk and place it in your kitchen or by the bathroom mirror.

• Write Colossians 3:2 on it in the morning and at the end of the day, write one sentence describing how you focused on Christ during the day. Repeat tomorrow.

Power  

• Colossians  3:2 (NIV) “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

• II Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

• John 15:19 (NIV) “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”