STORM-WARNING
Recently, I was startled awake in the middle of the night by the weather alerts going off on our phones. Only then did I notice the thunder and the lightning, the heavy rain. They had not woken me up. I was oblivious until the warning came.
I got up to read the warning in case it was for a tornado, which would require us to move to a shelter.
The warning was for a severe thunderstorm with winds up to 80 mph, which advised us to take shelter in a sturdy building and stay away from windows in case of flying debris. That is very nearly a tornado, except the winds would not be twirling.
I turned off the window air-conditioning unit, lest it attract a lightning strike and went right back to sleep. Unheard of for me because I am a light sleeper.
Just before dozing off, I distinctly recall a question, as if from God, coming into my mind. I cannot recall the exact question, I only now sense that it was something along the lines of whether or not I was afraid. I answered that I wasn’t and then slept.
But I dreamed of a very different storm. You know how dreams are, though. The details are pretty fuzzy now. Something about being a part of an organization that was trying to help people. Something about things not working out and troubles blocking the way.
And then, just before my alarm went off, I was speaking with two other folks working with me. We were assessing where we were on our efforts and what had happened along the way, including a sort of last minute, seemingly out of the blue, resolution and I said, “God was working it out all along”.
I woke up feeling extremely comforted. I felt that I’d needed that dream – that reminder.
Proverbs 18:10 [NKJV] The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.
I believe that the physical storm triggered a concern about a personal situation and my subconscious mind offered me the truth I know deep within but sometimes forget on the surface: God is working it out even when we don’t see Him working – even when (or especially when) we cannot figure out a way out. No matter what it looks like in the moment, matter what the storms around me are doing in that moment, God is working it out.
This is something I’d probably not tell someone else who is in the midst of a storm. It’s to “meme-ish” – along with phrases like, “God teaches us the best lessons – the deepest lessons – in the storms of life”.
I might teach about that truth in a class, or post about it in a blog, but I am not going to offer that to someone who is currently, metaphorically speaking, seeking a sturdy shelter and staying away from windows lest flying debris hit them. I do not want to pile onto the grief and pain of a current life storm by offering phrases that, while true, come with the back-handed undertone that maybe they are just not as close to God as they should be – not as wise about scripture as I.
Instead, I’d offer a listening ear, sympathy and love, as I remember my own struggles (present or past). I’d also offer a hug (if they are open to it).
God is our strong shelter from the storms of life. That is why Jesus told us to build on Him as protection from the storms of life. [See Luke 6:46-49] Proverbs 18:10 [NKJV] The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.
Even when God is definitely allowing a storm to happen and bidding us to wait – with faith – through the storm, He is working. He will ensure that the storm taught us something we’d never have learned otherwise – something that we can learn only through suffering, which Jesus, Himself learned. [See Hebrews 5:8 and 2 Corin. 2:7-10]
He bids us to see, with our own eyes, through our own suffering that His power and glory and abiding love is woven through it all.
Sweet sisters, if you are going through a severe storm – or even a small one that is disrupting your peace (or sleep) – rather than offering you meme-worthy quotes, I’d just like to say that I have been there, and if you need to talk, want someone to pray with or for you, or you just need a hug, you can reach out.
I trust God to teach you want He wants you to know. My job will be to be a person of comfort.
I trust that you have seen all those memes already and that eventually, as the storm clears, they won’t make you want to throw something at the computer screen when you read them.
Storms will come. If you are in the midst of one, I trust God to whisper His love into our mind and to fill your soul with peace. I have faith that He will reveal the lesson He wants for you to you and will heal you when the trial is over.
Been there. Done that. Read the memes. When it was over, I saw God’s hand in working it out. In the storm: not so much. And that is only human.
I’m here for you. And I’d love to hear from you.
You can write me now in the chat, or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org