The Lie Of The Storm

Spring here in NE Oklahoma has had a bit of a turbulent start. Within the last few weeks we have had severe thunderstorms and tornado touch downs. One Wednesday night while we were having our church small group in our home a familiar eerie feeling was in the air. The sky was a strange orange-blue. Soon the tornado sirens went off. We looked out our living room window and saw a funnel cloud in the distance. We were listening to the weather and had a plan if or when we needed to take cover. But, we did the most important thing first; we spoke The Word…

“…When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”   Luke 8:24-26

If you will look up that verse in the Bible you will see that the disciples woke Jesus up because they were afraid. It must have been a very severe storm to frighten seasoned fishermen who had spent their careers on the sea.

I have read this story many times. I wonder…was Jesus really sleeping, or was He waiting to see how His disciples would react? On the other hand, He may very well have been sleeping because He knew He had authority over the storm. Either way, He expected His followers to take care of it.

 “…no weapon turned against you will succeed…” Isaiah 54:17

“…he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” Exodus 12:23

I have been through storms of many types in my life. Sometimes it has been the climatic storms like I just described. But, the majority of the storms in my life have been the storms of life. I know what it is like to receive the  doctors report, “You probably won’t recover from this.” I have answered a knock on my door only to be handed an eviction notice. I have had my electricity shut off. I have scrounged through the cushions of my car and furniture hoping to find enough loose change for a loaf of bread. I have been lied about and betrayed by friends.

I had the same initial reaction to those things that many of you would. I felt despair, depression, hopeless and anger. Then, I remembered a phrase I heard a TV evangelist say, “Go to the throne, not the phone.” I picked my face up off the floor, wiped the snot from my nose, and dove into God’s Word.

I spent years rewiring my mind. I walked away from relationships that fed bitterness or resentment. I realized that any permanent healing had to begin with me. I had to dig up the the hardened soil of my heart. I had to let go of the hurt. Honestly, that was one of the hardest things to do. I wanted everyone I met to know what I was going through. I wanted to tell others what, “So and So” did to me. Thankfully, the Lord’s Holy Spirit and sweet soft voice reminded me that a great harvest never comes from compacted, stale soil. With God’s help I quit talking about the past. I began speaking of hope for the future that I saw in God’s Word.

“And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten…And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame. ”  Joel 2:25-27

The idea for this blog came to me this past week as I was reading in the 27th and 28th chapters of the book of Acts. The apostle Paul was a prisoner on a ship bound for Rome. The ship was in a horrible storm that lasted over two weeks. The cargo was thrown overboard  and the ship was eventually lost but all of the people on board were spared. They ended up on an island called Malta. During the three months that they stayed there, Paul prayed for many people of the island and they received healing.

Acts 28:10 “They showed us every respect and presented many gifts to us, honoring us with many honors; and when we sailed, they provided and put on board our ship everything we needed.”

Paul was a prisoner bound to stand trial, yet, instead of being bitter or angry, he looked beyond himself to the people around him. He saw a need he knew he could meet and he met it. The result? The lost cargo was restored. Although Paul still went onto Rome; his journey and the letters that he wrote are now a large part of the Word of God that we can draw strength, power, and victory in our own lives from today.

How is your Spring season going, my Friends? Are you in a season of renewal and joy; or are the storms of life crashing in from all sides?

The is hope. There IS a way out. Find time. MAKE time, to get alone with God. Get in His Word like your life depends on it, (because, whether you admit it or not, it does.) Ask the Lord to show you what you need to do to insure the healing of your heart. Break off toxic relationships or habits. Be mindful of the words that you speak.

The rubble that is your reality today does not have to stay that way. With God’s help take one step at a time. Allow Him to change in you what needs to be changed. You are never too old to begin again. Many chapters of your life may have been written; but, the final one is what is most important. Your life is not a mistake or an accident. You are here, now, by divine appointment. What is passion? What are your gifts? They are not merely for your enjoyment. They are tools given to you to make a difference in someone’s life.

Victory is already yours. It may seem like Jesus is asleep in your boat. But, listen closely..He is saying, “You got this…I am right here with you.”

”… for He Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!  Hebrews 13:5