When A Storm Hits

Usually there are signs that are recognizable when a storm is about to hit. Dark clouds begin to roll overhead. The wind begins to blow a bit harder. Everything begins to dim. And there's that chill that runs up your spine in anticipation of that storm. We think Get inside. Things are about to get really dicey. 


Sometimes, though, we don't see those signs. We become oblivious to those signs. We get so caught up in other things or we simply refuse to acknowledge those signs that we only realize the storm is looming when we feel those first drops of rain. When we hear that crash of thunder.

In this case, I'm not really talking about the kind of storm that you can monitor on the Weather Channel. I'm talking about the storms that rise in our hearts. In our minds. Usually they start with one thought. One feeling. One emotion. And then, just like brewing storm, that thought grows or leads to more thoughts. Then, suddenly, we are swept up in anxiety. Swept up in anger. Swept up in doubt and hopelessness. It can happen so suddenly and so violently that it is all we see. We don't think about how that storm is really just a blip on the radar. That in the scheme of everything, it is actually pretty small.

In Matthew 8:24, Jesus and His disciples were on a boat and then "Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping." Sometimes we feel that way. That God is sometimes far away. Distant. In the following verses, the disciples in their panic ran to Jesus and asked Him to save them.

His response? "Why are you fearful, you of little faith?" (Matt 8:26). He then rebuked the storm and there was great calm.

When we are in the middle of a storm, no matter what it might be for you, we need to run to Him immediately, knowing that He can calm our hearts and minds. That he can give us peace in the chaos. Rest when we need it most.

This morning, I was feeling the waves crashing inside my heart. My mind was swelling up with thoughts that were driving me away from the peace that God grants me daily. And then, in the midst of that chaos, "Be still, and know that I am God" made its way to the forefront of my mind and I remembered how powerful He is to deliver us from any situation. I went into the Word and then there was peace and calm. I was reminded that no matter what the turnout of my situation or predicament would be, God is still God and He was in control over this situation and every situation.   

Storms do two things very well: they distract us from God's power and love and distort the way things actually are. We have to remember who He is, because He will be our anchor when we feel like we are drifting away, He will protect us and be a refuge in the strongest of storms, and He is mightier than any doubt or challenge that presents itself in our lives.

--------------------------------------

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Matthew 8:24-26, Psalm 107:28-30, Psalm 9:9, Psalm 46:1, Proverbs 30:5  

The Value of Weakness

People are obsessed with weakness.

We can't stand weakness. We hate it in ourselves and we look for it in other people. Many times we try and ignore it, or mask it, or stuff it away somewhere where it can't be seen. We love trying to find weakness in other people so that we can feel better about ourselves. We try and minimize our own weakness by measuring it up with someone else's.

But what if we are looking at weakness the wrong way? Could it be that it's through weakness that we truly realize who we are, what we need and what we could be? But more importantly, our weaknesses reveal that we are all in need of a savior. That we, in fact, need God in our lives every second of every day? 

All of us have weaknesses. It's an inescapable, irrefutable, indisputable fact. And the sooner we can admit that to ourselves, and to each other, the sooner we can move forward in our walk with God. 

Weaknesses, or "thorn(s) in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7), come in many shapes and forms: emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, and relational to name a few.

But let me be perfectly clear: Our weaknesses should never define us. There are a lot of people who tend to link their identity with their weakness, and that will lead to a life lived in a position of weakness. Friends, that is no way to live.

In his second letter to the Corinthian Christians, Paul writes about his own thorn in the flesh. His weakness. He had pleaded with the Lord repeatedly to take away the thorn. To pull it away from him. But He answered him curiously:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 

In the end, Christ is about transforming lives. He wants to use our weaknesses, our suffering, our trials, to shape us and mold us and refine us. God always used people throughout the Bible who had major flaws and weaknesses. Moses had a speech impediment and serious anger issues; David was a serious height disadvantage when facing Goliath and also succumbed to adultery; Peter showed his weakness when he denied Christ three times. There are countless examples of weaknesses that in end were used for good, if we allow Christ to transform our hearts and minds.

Like Paul, we can boast in our weaknesses, knowing that Christ is not leaving us the way we were. He works in and through our weaknesses to reveal His awesome power and glory, and because of that we do not have to walk timidly or in shame or guilt. That's how we can be strong when we are weak: By trusting Him with our weaknesses and allowing the Holy Spirit to take control over those areas of our lives, taking that critical step of faith. Not through our own strength and ability, but thorough Christ's. His grace is enough to guide us through our weaknesses. He equips us to face weaknesses and trials so that the world could see that we are not dominated by our weakness, but through Christ, we can overcome those weaknesses.

Let our weaknesses serve as reminders that we need to lean on Christ, our rock and source of strength, every second of every day and that we need Him more than the next breath we take.

--------------------------------------

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: 2 Corinthians 12, Hebrews 11:32-34, Romans 8:26