Much greater abililty and knowledge come from storms and unfamiliar terrain than from fair weather and a well trodden path, providing one persists and prevails.
Rain in the UK is nothing compared to those we get back in Malaysia. Usually, heavy rain pour in the Klang Valley means, floods, thunder, lightning, black out & candles! I remember the worst storm or rainy day I had to endure was when I was in Singapore last summer. It was the early hours in the morning and I was sleeping in the living room in the 12 floor flat of Laguna Park & man, did it wake me up. The next morning, after the storm, I stepped outside to the ground floor car park and saw tree branches on the ground & broken twigs scattered all over the lawn. It was as if that storm could drag down giants! Massive cleaning up of the place was needed, and to think these old trees had strong roots!!
I am reminded that as people, we need to be ready to face storms. Some of us appear to go through life without much stress, and on the outset seem pretty care free. But the reality is that everyone will battle many fierce storms of one type or another, whether our struggle is evident to others or not.
Jesus himself did not protect his disciples from experiencing storms. But, what He did was to warn them of hard times to come, help them prepare, and then He rode through the wind of the storms with them. And the amazing lesson we find in the way Jesus lived His life and how he taught those around Him, was this : When they became overwhelmed, He even calmed the storm ( Mark 5) Jesus calmed the storm, be it a physical storm or the storms of life =)
I am learning to ride the storm. How? Erm..good one there. I take it as it comes, and i think what has worked for me this week is to really tend the garden of my soul. Maybe just small steps. Little by little everyday ( as the song goes...), little by little in everyway :) Developing deep roots of faith in the process and never forget perseverance!
Riding a storm like me?? Keep repeating "In God I trust, I will not be afraid!
After a big storm, just like the one I experienced in Singapore, there is always a lot of breakage or tree trunks and just utter mess to clean up. Its like that with my life too, not sure about yours. I tend to find that I need to take time out after a difficult episode to pick up all the pieces. And it is here when I know & experience God's hold on me and embrace the comfort in His mighty arms.
Sometimes there is this vibe in us that we need to be so composed. I find that I don't have to be afraid to be me. I don;t have to rush a smile and pretend the storm never happened. If I need healing, take that time out to heal. But its crucial to be real about what I just went through. These times can be very lonely times if we don't get the right perspective and theology of God. He provides solace in Himself and the company of friends ( our community!). God is gentle, how often I forget His gentle touch that soothes my soul and brings control to the everyday frustrations of life. The one thing I feel sometimes I am not prepared to do and of course its hard to admit but most of us do struggle with is to ask God to teach us any lessons to be learned, not what others need to learn but what I need to learn from this. The harder thing to do is to look at one self and be open enough to accept certain things that points to us. For example, how we could have done things differently =) But yet, I am still a firm believer that no matter what, ALL things work out for the good of those who love Him. Thank's Paul for penning that down in Romans!!
Jesus did not leave us alone and helpless either. He supplied and empowered us with weapons to use against hard times, the ultimate one being His word. He covers us with his continuous and constant grace and love. He gives us support in good friends. He connected us with a direct phone line with our prayers to Him. And this is the icing on the cake : He left us the person of the Holy Spirit to ride the storms with us.
So, stand firm in His mighty power. The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Much greater abililty and knowledge come from storms and unfamiliar terrain than from fair weather and a well trodden path, providing one persists and prevails.
Side info: I read somewhere that Oak trees grow stronger roots with stress. Could the same be said of people?? Hmmm..food for thought! :)
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