Ishould have figured something was up. On my way to church, a TD Jakes message
played on the radio. He was talking about the storms of life and how the storms
ceased once Jesus got in the boat. He said how the storm ceasing could be
interpreted to mean that the storm was never really a storm in the first place,
but an orchestrated event designed to get the disciples (you and I) to invite
Jesus take control of their boat. I’d thought about this all the way through to
church. At service the visiting pastor began to speak about the sudden storms
of life. Then he talked about Peter’s water-walking experience. His message was
strong and clear…a call never to look down at the waters but to keep your eyes
set on Jesus. I should have seen it, but it was such a beautiful morning,
Sunday was. How could I have foreseen? But that’s how life plays it isn’t it?
So
I came out of church and as I waited in the car for other members of the family
to join me, the preacher I was listening to on a CD also began to speak about
the storms of life. And his reference point was? You guessed right – the disciples
in the storm! By now I was beginning to pay a bit of attention; not a whole lot
though I confess, but enough so as to realize the Lord was saying something. I picked
my phone to call my husband who earlier on was on a flight back home. I was
still smiling from my conversation with him when I noticed the flashing red
message notifications on my phone. I wasn’t smiling a couple of minutes later
though!
I came out of church and as I waited in the car for other members of the family
to join me, the preacher I was listening to on a CD also began to speak about
the storms of life. And his reference point was? You guessed right – the disciples
in the storm! By now I was beginning to pay a bit of attention; not a whole lot
though I confess, but enough so as to realize the Lord was saying something. I picked
my phone to call my husband who earlier on was on a flight back home. I was
still smiling from my conversation with him when I noticed the flashing red
message notifications on my phone. I wasn’t smiling a couple of minutes later
though!
Yep!
Just moments later, I could barely breathe from the intensity of emotions that
assailed me from the messages that had come in. Hot tears began to roll down my
cheeks. Tell me sis, what do you do when life throws you a sucker-punch? Ever been
there? What do you do when in a flash your heart breaks into a million pieces,
whereas just moments before you were on a spiritual and emotional high? What do
you do when life hits you such that you just don’t know what to do? What do you
do when you realize that all you would ever have thought to know to do can’t
change a situation?
Just moments later, I could barely breathe from the intensity of emotions that
assailed me from the messages that had come in. Hot tears began to roll down my
cheeks. Tell me sis, what do you do when life throws you a sucker-punch? Ever been
there? What do you do when in a flash your heart breaks into a million pieces,
whereas just moments before you were on a spiritual and emotional high? What do
you do when life hits you such that you just don’t know what to do? What do you
do when you realize that all you would ever have thought to know to do can’t
change a situation?
I
struggled through my tears to read two messages in particular from two very
dear women in my life. As I read through, I was scared for them and with them; I
was disappointed for them and with them; I was as sad as could be for them and
with them; I felt an initial sense of hopelessness for and with them; and yes,
I was admittedly angry at life for them and with them. The pain I felt was as
real and sharp as could be. It took me all of ten minutes to compose myself
enough to begin the drive home, and it took every ounce of self-control I had
to make that drive. It surely did! It helped that I had my children in the car.
I had to get them home safe, regardless.
struggled through my tears to read two messages in particular from two very
dear women in my life. As I read through, I was scared for them and with them; I
was disappointed for them and with them; I was as sad as could be for them and
with them; I felt an initial sense of hopelessness for and with them; and yes,
I was admittedly angry at life for them and with them. The pain I felt was as
real and sharp as could be. It took me all of ten minutes to compose myself
enough to begin the drive home, and it took every ounce of self-control I had
to make that drive. It surely did! It helped that I had my children in the car.
I had to get them home safe, regardless.
I
have been quiet over the past couple of days since. It would seem that those
nearest and dearest to me are grappling with new challenges all of a sudden –
challenges with their health, their homes, their children, their businesses. All
in the space of a few days, the storms all rolled in together. But here’s the standard irony of life: the
earth didn’t move! As low as I have been in spirit, I have still had to deal
with the realities of life. My children have still had to go to school and on
time; my meetings have still had to hold at the office; I have still had to
deal with paperwork and other office responsibilities; deal with business
calls, etc. I have still needed to maintain a professional mien before my staff
and colleagues. In this space, my heart stayed heavy. I’m so sure you can
relate with this.
have been quiet over the past couple of days since. It would seem that those
nearest and dearest to me are grappling with new challenges all of a sudden –
challenges with their health, their homes, their children, their businesses. All
in the space of a few days, the storms all rolled in together. But here’s the standard irony of life: the
earth didn’t move! As low as I have been in spirit, I have still had to deal
with the realities of life. My children have still had to go to school and on
time; my meetings have still had to hold at the office; I have still had to
deal with paperwork and other office responsibilities; deal with business
calls, etc. I have still needed to maintain a professional mien before my staff
and colleagues. In this space, my heart stayed heavy. I’m so sure you can
relate with this.
ButGod! Yes sis….But God! I love the fact that when we get to this place, there is
always a ‘But God!’ testimony. God always has His way of bringing us back front
and center doesn’t He? He sent me an angel today. My sistas had been calling and
texting to check up on me all day (love you ladies) but I couldn’t take their
calls. I wasn’t about to mess up my mascara at the office (so thankful I can
make light of this now) and I knew for certain I would be in tears again if I
as much as heard their voices. So I held out for as long as I could. Eventually
though, I answered the first of the calls I had a leading to, and God spoke.
It
was a simple statement. She called to say I should hang in there; that she
loved me and was there for me. And then she said ‘You know that in the middle of all this He is still God right? All this
is not a surprise to Him’. And then it hit me! A truth I have always known and
which I preach, but which in the storm I was in, the enemy had tried to becloud
from me. God is still God! All power belongs to Him! He is in total control! He
works to do His will and His good pleasure! His sole objective is to love us,
see us through the trials of this earth, and bring us into His love in
eternity!
was a simple statement. She called to say I should hang in there; that she
loved me and was there for me. And then she said ‘You know that in the middle of all this He is still God right? All this
is not a surprise to Him’. And then it hit me! A truth I have always known and
which I preach, but which in the storm I was in, the enemy had tried to becloud
from me. God is still God! All power belongs to Him! He is in total control! He
works to do His will and His good pleasure! His sole objective is to love us,
see us through the trials of this earth, and bring us into His love in
eternity!
Those
simple words reminded me that God is in my boat! He is in the boat with these
dear women in my life who are being assailed right now. He is your boat, sis! He
was with each of us ever before we knew what was coming, and He will be with us
till the very end! I remembered His Word that His strength is made perfect in
our weakness and it ministered to me that each of us was in the perfect place
for His glory to shine through. I took strength in this truth once again. I don’t
need to be strong sis; neither do my sistas; and neither do you. All we need to
do is to look unto Jesus! He is our strength! He is our source! It is in Him
that we move and live and have our being! Halleluyah!
simple words reminded me that God is in my boat! He is in the boat with these
dear women in my life who are being assailed right now. He is your boat, sis! He
was with each of us ever before we knew what was coming, and He will be with us
till the very end! I remembered His Word that His strength is made perfect in
our weakness and it ministered to me that each of us was in the perfect place
for His glory to shine through. I took strength in this truth once again. I don’t
need to be strong sis; neither do my sistas; and neither do you. All we need to
do is to look unto Jesus! He is our strength! He is our source! It is in Him
that we move and live and have our being! Halleluyah!
It
all added up, sis. It always all adds up! God is God! We need to walk in this
assurance. He never promised us easy! He promised us ‘I will be with you through the storms, through the floods, through the
fires’. A clear burden lifted from my heart as the Holy Spirit brought me
back to this place of remembrance. This is my sure word to you today sis. Like me,
when the storms of life come to buffet you or those so dear to you that you
feel their pain as deeply; look up sis! Look up! There is One Who says He is
working ALL things out for your good and mine. All He asks is that we trust
HIM, storms and all…. It will all add up in the end…. for your good, and for
mine.
all added up, sis. It always all adds up! God is God! We need to walk in this
assurance. He never promised us easy! He promised us ‘I will be with you through the storms, through the floods, through the
fires’. A clear burden lifted from my heart as the Holy Spirit brought me
back to this place of remembrance. This is my sure word to you today sis. Like me,
when the storms of life come to buffet you or those so dear to you that you
feel their pain as deeply; look up sis! Look up! There is One Who says He is
working ALL things out for your good and mine. All He asks is that we trust
HIM, storms and all…. It will all add up in the end…. for your good, and for
mine.
Be
blessed sis….. for you surely are.
blessed sis….. for you surely are.
