Weathering the Storm Part-3

Matt 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is

willing, but the flesh is weak.

Life is a journey in which we progress in our daily walk. Sometimes it is in the form of baby steps, a jog, a fast run, a crawl and often times we stand still. The day we close our eyes forever becomes the day we reach our eternal destination.

It is difficult to watch a storm outside when there is lightening. Even in our daily lives it is difficult to stand in the midst of the storm However, I am fortunate to stand underneath the shelter of His wing. The storm of cancer, a loss of a marriage, job changes, and other events that have all hit me within a 9 month period this year and I feel like Job.  

True patience is the key in this situation and learning to hear His voice through this storm is very difficult. I have been taught that I should be still and listen to Him throughout the storms of life. I believe this is not accurate nor reality based.  Let’s take a reality check.  Is that really what we focus on?  Listening to God?  It is easier said than done and often rarely followed. 

When we are doing something, do we pay attention to our spouse, children or friends when they are talking to us?  Do we hear them but not listen to their words?  Do we obtain eye contact or even glance in their direction?  The same is true in watching for God in the storm rather than listening.  The storm makes noise and can often be confused with God's voice.  If we watch for Him in the actions of our storm, we will see the results and gain the faith He gives in calming the storm.

How often do we move into panic mode because we can’t hear His voice, or doubt Him, or claim that He doesn’t hear our request or even answer us?  Doubts may assail. Some will say it is lack of faith while others will say that God doesn’t exist or even that He has caused the storm.

Life storms can hit devastating blows like Job was dealt.  But Job did not sin against God and kept his faithfulness. How can I learn from Job?  Why do people tell me to listen to God’s voice in the storm? It is near impossible to listen when the human aspect of fight or flight kicks in. We believe it is the human need to survive, control, subdue the threat, or a combination of the three.  Even if we run and flee, we are still in control of our actions, even when the storm is still chasing.

When we are in the midst of a raging storm, do we not focus on self-preservation and not necessarily the problem?  If so, how can we really listen?  To listen is to sit still and wait for a response.  When we are frantically trying to prepare, shut down, or clean up, our focus is on the storm or damage from the storm and usually not on God or spiritual matters.

Through this journey of my storm, I am learning it is about watching, not listening. I have to watch for His cues and His direction, to keep my focus on His promises and not the storms. When my focus is on the storm then my fears increase and I do not watch nor listen because I want to control. When I have the faith and watch for Him, then the storm will become still because He is walking me through.

When Peter walked on the water and sank, Jesus asked, “Why do you doubt?”  Peter did not lose faith in Christ. He did not doubt Christ’s ability to make him walk.  Peter walked as long as his eyes were fixed on Christ.  He only doubted in his ability to continue walking toward Jesus when he looked away from his Savior’s eyes and heard the wind.  In desperation he cried out to be lifted.  When we are spent from cleaning up our messes, running from the storm, or have sunk rock bottom, we will finally cry out to Him in desperation, “Lord, save me,” as Peter did (Matthew 14:22-33).

What is difficult to watch is what is going on during the storm. Why?  Because it is painful to watch. I am learning to watch for God in the storms and see where He will lead me.  I will believe on His promises that He will lead me.

What do I watch for during the storm?  I watch for what He is doing to change me. Storms change the paths they encounter. Maybe it is patience He is teaching me. I watch what He is doing in other’s lives; how my actions impact others.  I watch for the transformation of my attitude. Is my attitude one of contentment and thankfulness, like that of a victor? Or is it one of discontent, grumbling, and the disheartening attitude of a victim?  God wants us to watch what He can do more in the storm than listening to what He says.

When our focus is on Him, then what do we have to fear when we watch for Him?  Focus denotes clear visual definition. It is adapting the level of light and being able to see clearly. It is paying particular attention to something.  This is not about listening for God’s voice to speak to us.  When we watch, when we see, when we seek God, we are looking for that clear definition of the path He has for us.  It is about watching for the paths He opens for us to follow. Therefore, devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Col 4:2).

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him

 

 

 

Weathering the Storm - Part 2

Luke 21:36  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man

When I was a child, I remember living in San Antonio and did not like the tornadic storms that would come roaring through.  Thunder scared me the most because of the loud booming sounds. I don’t remember who in my family told me that thunder was the angels in heaven enjoying their bowling league games.  Sometimes the looming sound would scare me because I thought it could be the voice of God talking.

As my father was in the Air Force, we moved periodically, and one move was to South Dakota. If it wasn’t thunderstorms, it was the threat of and the real-time blizzards that made me afraid for fear of lack of food, water and electricity for being snowed in.  Those who live in blizzard prone areas are well familiar with storm preparations.  The first year we were in Rapid City, the blizzards made it very difficult to see the roads and made driving near impossible. Snow drifts could be as high as 10 feet tall, well covering the front door.  We would have to go out the back door in order for us to dig the snow away from the front door.  Stocking up on food and water was imperative because the snow storms could last for days and then recovery and road openings would take additional days. My father was often stranded at the missile silos for a week because of the snow covered roads, making travel impossible.

Storms come in different varieties, but so do tragedies. Moving to Japan there were storms too, but even more frightening were the earthquakes.  My first earthquake was a 7.8 magnitude on May 25, 1983, in Misawa, Japan. The ground looked like an ocean wave rolling in front of my eyes and that is if I could stand still.  We do not prepare for earthquakes as there is little or no notice, only clean up after the fact. What took years to build, takes only seconds to destroy.

My focus in anticipation of the storms was to listen to the news, receiving updates as to the location and progression of the storm, praying it would miss me. Other times my focus was on prepping for an oncoming storm. And at other times, my focus was on cleaning up the aftermath of the damage left behind an earth shattering event.

No matter where we are in life and no matter what stage of life we are in, storms and tragedies will happen. Many times there is no control over them; they are what they are.  We may have had time to prepare; we may have been taken unaware.  A death in the family, an accident, a life-altering event. Each one produces a different reaction.  We may choose to flee and run, but only for a time as it may eventually catch up to us, sometimes worse than if we stood strong from the onset. We may be fearful of what we do not understand.  We may try to prepare for the worst case scenario or become stuck in focusing on cleaning up the aftermath.

God does not cause the storm. This is a myth that some wish to believe because they want to blame Him for the calamity that falls upon them.  A life storm may have been caused by a poor choice made and it is the circumstances that have caused the earthquake that shook us up.  James 1:17 reminded me that good gifts come from Him. He doesn’t want to see His children hurt.

What are we doing in the midst of the storm? We prepare for the worst of the storm in order to lessen the damage and survival.  Windows are boarded up to protect the interior of the home.  When life storms hit, some people shut down emotionally and fall prey to depression, suicide, or withdrawal from others. Their life is boarded up, creating an impenetrable shell, to protect them from the onslaught of forces bearing down against them.

God wants us to be active during our storms. Not being still and listening. Jonathan and his armor bearer prayed, fought and won the battle against the Philistines. It was a storm that Jonathan watched for God’s actions in the battle. Saul sat and tried to listen to God for an answer and received no word. This is why I believe in the midst of life’s storms we watch for what He is doing. Not what we are doing or what the storm is doing.

Watch the eagle. When the storm comes, the eagle positions its wings, so that the wind will pick him up and lift him above the storm. While the storm rages beneath, this inventive eagle soars above it. It does not evade the storm, but simply uses the elements to elevate it to safety. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1. Sometimes, like a blizzard, when the storm is too rough to see, there is faith (the assurance of things not seen - Hebrews 12:1) and the reliance upon Him to lead us safely through the storm.

My grandmother would sing the following to me during the time of storms to comfort me:

 

“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

by the living Word of God I shall prevail,

standing on the promises of God.”

 

Watch for part 2 of this blog next week.

 

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him).

Weathering the Storm part 1

I may have an idea of what you are thinking right now. What motivated you to pick this up and start reading? Sometimes I do not know why there is an urge or a compelling notion to do something until after the fact. It is my prayer you stay with me and read my miracle in progress as you continue to read additional parts.

This journey may seem like an everyday life struggle, but for me it impacted me so deeply I had to share this story with you. Whether you have a belief in God or not, there is a human element to change thought patterns in order to survive. A submissive will to change brought about being transported through the fire in a course of five to six months. It is my prayer you look for more insight from this blog within the next couple of weeks for the continuation of this story.

First, a little background information to help put this into perspective and, hopefully, God will be glorified in the process. After all, He is the potter and I am the clay. However, in this instance, I was dull raw iron that was placed in the fire and forged on his anvil of grace. It was the hammer pounding life events into me, to be wielded and fashioned in providing this testimony to you.

May I first offer an apology if you have ever been offended by a Christian. Being a Christian is a growth process of adapting, learning and changing who I am as a person. In reality, we are to be Christ like. Our job is not to judge or condemn others, but to assist people in their life journey, love them and teach them about a God whose love is greater than any man in wanting the best for mankind.

Learning to read the bible for myself assisted me to a better understanding. Surely, I could practice and even had good intentions. However, it was not good enough and the storms came. There are events that came to a head in July, 2013, that began to push me to a level I just could not handle and I wanted to give up. I was tired of living.

In the course of these five months, loosing family, job and in October a diagnoses of bladder cancer, I was devastated. One of the ‘causes’ of bladder cancer is smoking, and I never smoked. How could this be possible? Keep reading and see the story unfold. The storm still rages, but having a faith in God is a life altering experience.

The rain of fire within my life began to destroy who I was as a person. Why did I have cancer? Why were these events taking place? The problem was the questions and no answers. The focus was on the storm and not what God was doing in my life. Sure, it is human nature to tend to go that route and just become the victim to my circumstances, but in a moment things changed.

My concept of God changed. Does He exist? Do I blame Him and become an atheist? How does this story unfold? This event was life changing and I want to share this journey with you, so stay tuned for next week’s Part 2 of the story.