Despite the literal truth of this statement flooding my
community as you read this, I can’t help but feel the full torrential force of
life’s storms. When the wind is raging and the rain won’t relent, there are
times when we feel hopelessly swept away in the flood of our trials.
Grief, finances, failures, illness, relationships.
Dreams.
All the pieces, big and small, that make up a life.
Sometimes it feels like the things we fight most fervently
for are the first things ripped from our grasp while we flounder in the ever
swelling problems threating to dishearten and drown.
Whether it’s weariness or resignation to that inevitable ebb
and flow of life’s ups and downs, the crushing weight of those raining problems
can leave us hesitant to hope for the sunrise. The rainbow. The promise of
deliverance. Hesitant, or maybe desperate, to cling to that small, sometimes
rapidly fraying, thread of faith holding us together.
Ever been right there? In desperate need of a lifeline?
Right there, in that perfectly catastrophic storm, the truth you need the
most can fall on deaf ears. Those spoon fed assurances are easier to swallow
when you aren’t up to your neck in the deep end, battle weary and gasping for
breath. When that storm front is bearing down. When the dark cloud blinds you
to the light breaking just out of reach.
Assurances like…
“God won’t give you
more than you can handle.”
“His yoke is easy.”
“Cast your cares on
Him.”
“The Lord is my
strength.”
“This, too, shall
pass.”
“He has not given you
a spirit of fear.”
“What the devil meant
for evil, God can turn around for good.”
All powerful truths. And yet, all, at times, feel as cliché as
the title of this post.
Ever fought against a current? Not quite as easy as it
looks, is it? And in that same way, activating our faith, walking the walk,
surrendering control, just being still can
feel about as difficult as walking on water.
But you know… how we feel
doesn’t change what is.
Your doubts, your weaknesses and struggles don’t change the
fact that God’s got it. That he will not leave you. That no matter how alone
you feel in your storm, he can and will intervene to calm the raging sea and
keep you from going under.
Your feelings in your overwhelming moment of despair are
sorely unmatched for the truth of who has you, your current pain, and your
future triumph in His hands. In the middle of that storm, the water is high, your
fear is powerful, your eyes can’t see what’s ahead. They are stuck, right there
with you, on the bleak, blinding chaos.
Don’t panic. You’re going to bungle it at times. You will
take on water. You will, without a doubt, get wet.
And that’s okay. Sometimes we need to fall in to wash some
stuff off. To remember we are not in control. That, though He didn’t cause your
storm, He can still command the waves.
Thank God.
Rest and know. The flood will not take you because, whether
you grasp it or not, you have the ultimate life raft at your disposal. What you feel does not have to define who
you are.
An heir. A testimony. A champion.
And held.
Just keep swimming toward help … He’s closer than you think.
<3 Amy
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Amy Leigh Simpson writes romantic mysteries with honesty and humor, sweetness and spice, and gritty reality covered by grace. When she’s not stealing moments at naptime to squeeze out a few more adventures in storyland, she’s chasing around two tow-headed miscreants (Ahem)—boys, playing dress up with one sweet princess baby, and being the very blessed wife to the coolest, most swoon-worthy man alive. Amy is a Midwestern-girl, a singer, blogger, runner, coffee-addict, and foodie. Her Sports Medicine degree is wasted patching up daily boo boo’s, but whatever is left usually finds its way onto the page with fluttering hearts, blood and guts, and scars that lead to happily ever after.
Check out her NEW romantic mystery novel FROM WINTER'S ASHES! Available NOW!
Amy Leigh Simpson writes romantic mysteries with honesty and humor, sweetness and spice, and gritty reality covered by grace. When she’s not stealing moments at naptime to squeeze out a few more adventures in storyland, she’s chasing around two tow-headed miscreants (Ahem)—boys, playing dress up with one sweet princess baby, and being the very blessed wife to the coolest, most swoon-worthy man alive. Amy is a Midwestern-girl, a singer, blogger, runner, coffee-addict, and foodie. Her Sports Medicine degree is wasted patching up daily boo boo’s, but whatever is left usually finds its way onto the page with fluttering hearts, blood and guts, and scars that lead to happily ever after.Check out her NEW romantic mystery novel FROM WINTER'S ASHES! Available NOW!
Amy, this IS so true. Sometimes faith is all we have -- but it's enough. My husband is an ordained elder in our denomination, and the best piece of advice he ever received was, "Hang on to your call. Sometimes it will be all you have." I think this can be expanded to anyone in God's work, especially writers.
ReplyDeleteKathy Bailey
Oh so true, Kathy! It's so hard to stay encouraged in those times. Thanks for sharing :)
DeleteI JUST read this in Foster's book, Prayer, about "the dark night of the soul", or the inevitable seasons in our journey that God is silent. Thought I'd share because many times, my storm swells when God seems far away:
ReplyDelete"In the very act of hiddenness God is slowly weaning us of fashioning Him in our own image. Like Aslan, the Christ figure in the Chronicles of Narnia, God is wild and free and comes at will. By refusing to be a puppet on our string or a genie in our bottle, God frees us from our false, idolatrous images."
He also says, "Darkness is a definite prayer experience."
Love this. Love that God does take darkness and shine His light into it...in the perfect timing that will make the greatest impact. Just like the floods will leave and make room for healing, our God will never forsake us to the point of ruin. :)
Ok, sorry for that processing! Beautiful post, Ames!! :)
Ooo I love that! That's just it! What a neat confirmation. I read your Lazarus post last night and I had JUST heard a sermon on the same thing. I love how He know just what we need to hear and makes sure to whisper it in our ear. And then smack us upside the head when it doesn't sink in the first time. ;) love you, friend.
DeleteAmy, such truth, such beauty and hope in your words. Yes, I've been in those storms. There is comfort in knowing we are not expected to walk through it perfectly, just holding onto Jesus' hand. I'm so glad God's got us in the midst of the worst tumult.
ReplyDeleteI loved this: "Rest and know. The flood will not take you because, whether you grasp it or not, you have the ultimate life raft at your disposal. What you feel does not have to define who you are." Yes. Yes.
And this? " Sometimes we need to fall in to wash some stuff off. To remember we are not in control. That, though He didn’t cause your storm, He can still command the waves."
I HATE falling in! But you're right. Sometimes I need to fall in to get rid of the wrong mindsets and to remember Who's really in control.
Thank you for these words, Amy.
I fully believe that God DOES give us more than we can handle. That's so we learn to call on him for help.
ReplyDelete❤ thank you, sweet friend. So glad this resonated!
DeleteWow, Ames. Fantastic post! Praying you and your family stay dry.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mare!
DeleteLove what you said about feelings versus the reality of who we are and where we stand in Christ... it can be so hard to take feelings and thoughts captive sometimes, but it's so important! In other news, I was totally oblivious to the flooding going on-- how awful! :(
ReplyDeleteIt's really bad. Schools are closed. Almost all the major highways flooded. Lots of damage. We've been lucky this time. Just a little bit of water in our basement. But we have friends who have lost everything. Again! After just now recovering after the December 2015 flood. Crazy!
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