It’s such an odd feeling. Watching the weather via apps and feeds. The sun is shining here. Not a cloud in the sky. Nothing even predicted for the next ten days. Yet, but a few hundred miles away, everyone’s world has paused. Put on hold. No exceptions.
Continued prayers to the coastlines that have not yet been touched by hurricane Matthew. The unknown can make you disturbingly impatient, frustrated and after many days of preparing, processing all the scenarios of what might happen, planning for all of them and worrying you forgot one little thing – like maybe batteries. The checklist is running on repeat . . . and you are exhausted.
The noise is overwhelming.
You try to decide if it’s better to prepare or hope for the best and talk yourself into downplaying the impending storm.
Do you think a similar scenario plays out in our lives when physical, spiritual and emotional storms appear on the horizon?
Ultimately, we do have to make a decision. Unfortunately, many times I know I have chosen the latter option.
We get tired of the drama and the hype – of the “sky is falling” mentality. Everything can easily become a drama worthy of its own airtime of reality tv on a major network.
How do you prepare?
If you live in a potential strike zone of hurricanes, you will have a list of equipment you might not use for years then all of a sudden one storm after another threatens and you know it was worth the investment.
The consumables are harder. Once the track, the cone of threat is best defined, the grocery stores empty. It isn’t a pretty sight.
For the “other storms”, I have accumulated equipment that is always nearby. My faith. Trust. Confidence in God’s promises. Perseverance. Hope.
What equipment is in your preparedness kit?
What have you chosen to depend on? Will it hold up when the big storms come?
My community of support sustains me daily.
What is your community? Where can you go to get a daily plug into healing. Into moving forward with the help of your friends. Maybe Grief share. Small group at church. Celebrate Recovery. Divorce Care. AA meetings. These are just a few possibilities.
The best thing about these? Even though they are consumable – providing life support to your wounded soul – they are renewable. With God in the midst of your efforts – you will never find yourself standing there looking at empty shelves. Alone. Ever.
So, consider the value of preparedness. The wisdom in it.
And when you grow weary and the “noise” of the storms drowns out your ability to fight on your own – rest in knowing this.
Psalm 21:1-2
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
“Lord, we come to You now, asking for the courage to face these big storms with names and 150 mph winds and prepare to the best of our ability. Lord, we also ask You to give us courage to face the storms in our lives that threaten to fill our ears with so much noise that we can no longer hear your voice and the love in it. Guide our feet to the places where we will find You. We love You, Lord. We love You so much. Forgive us of our sins, fill us with Your grace as we prepare for storms yet to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
A great reminder of Who is in control and on Whom I can depend!
Amen! So relatable, so real and such a beautiful reminder about who to turn to when the storms of grief and suffering surge through our lives! Thank you Janet!!