There's A Storm A'Comin'!

I have lived in the Midwest my entire life. I have been surrounded by cornfields, dirt roads and small towns. Some may consider those things a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it. The one thing that really sticks out in my mind though is the snowstorms that we used to get as a kid. I don't know if it is one of those times when as a child everything seems bigger than life and then in adulthood you realize just how small something truly was? But I know that some of the snowstorms that happened during my childhood were huge, by any means of measuring! The current weather forecast for our area in the next couple of days is predicting one of those good old fashioned, huge snow storms. Now, some people will panic and head to the grocery store and clean out the bread aisle, the milk cooler and the egg cooler, because of the "maybe" snowstorm. These folks would be your former boy scouts and girl scouts who still live by the "be prepared" motto. I wonder though, with those items as their supplies, they are either planning on doing a lot of baking or they will be eating toast until the cows come home! There will be those other people who have the mentality that, "Nah, it isn't going to snow that much. I'll just wait and head out to the store if I really need something." So, how does someone prepare for a storm? I am reminded of a story in the book of Matthew. The disciples were on a boat, waiting for Jesus to finish His teachings. While they were on the boat a horrible storm came upon them. Of course they were frightened, and of course they doubted that they would survive the storm. Think of your own life, have you ever doubted that you would survive a storm, not of nature, but of this life? Jesus of course was there during the storm and He came to them. He came to them, not just to save them, but to show them how faith is supposed to work. Peter, one of His disciples wanted to be able to walk on the water, just as Jesus was doing, so Jesus gave him that ability. But what happened next is what happens to all of us from time to time during a storm in our lives, we doubt. We doubt that He will save us. Peter doubted. Peter began to sink. Then Peter did what we should all learn how to do, he cried out to Jesus-"Lord, save me!" In the Bible it says, "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter and asked him, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?"(Matthew 5:31) Why do we doubt? Jesus is always here for us, always near us and always waiting for us. He is here when we cry out to him. He is here when we are facing life's storms and can't get back into the boat without his help. He is just waiting to be asked to save us! I like how it says "immediately". Not five minutes later, not ten minutes later, and not when Peter was up to his neck in water-it was immediately. Jesus' timing is not our timing, his immediate is not our definition of immediate. Sometimes we have to stop telling Jesus how big our storm is and start telling our storm how big our Jesus is! Faith-it is not easy, but it is necessary. It will be broken and beaten and tested all through our lives, but if we stop believing, then we will allow the storm to have power over us. Give the power over your storm to the one who can calm it-Jesus. You can be like a scout and always be prepared or you can be the procrastinator and wait until it is too late, but if you have faith- Jesus will "immediately" be at your side ready to pull you out of life's torrential waters.
So, now with that being said I should get out the door to the store to stock up on my milk, bread and eggs. What can I say? I was a girl scout:) I hope that whatever storm you are facing in your life right now that you will ask and cry out even, to Jesus. He is waiting.
Blessings-Nicole

Comments

  1. About 4 weeks into 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments, I couldn't take it any more. The traffic, the 40 minute drive to get there, the treatment, and repeating it all again the next day. Stuck in traffic one morning, I finally cried out to God, "Help me!" He was at my side thereafter for each and every treatment, and He calmed my soul. I am in awe of Him.

    I really like your blog. I found you thru your entry for She Speaks. Good luck!

    P.S. I live in Wisconsin and endured that wicked storm, too! I baked! :)

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