With all the news on these monster storms, Harvey, Irma and Jose´ that have affected so many people, I wanted to comment on our personal storms, which seem as monstrous to us as these storms have looked to the Islands and our own coast!
Have you ever looked into a kaleidoscope at the changing shapes and colors? I had one, as a little girl, and loved to turn it slowly and watch the little pieces fall into the different patterns. Looking at clouds is another time that shapes you are looking at change as you are looking at them, this is because the wind is blowing way up where you can’t see it except in the changing shapes of the clouds. We start our life journey as an infant and our only shaping force so far is heredity. We begin to grow and are influenced by how we are treated and the things we see and hear, and sometimes our impression of events are more real than the actual event. We get to a place in life where everything seems settled and then the wind of change happens in our life and our shape becomes something we don’t recognize and we don’t know how to deal with this new shape we are turned into. We make adjustments but the wind continues to blow and we see something different. There are times we bring about the change because we become unhappy with our present situation, so we blow along with the wind like a balloon bouncing along in a current of ever changing wind. I have watched people through the years that have faced adversity and came out shining like a diamond, changed but better for the polishing effects of the trouble, others have crumbled under situations less arduous. Strength in the midst of a storm is something I greatly admire, a person who can “take a licking and keep on ticking”. I am on the inside of a family that has had it’s share of trouble, but we are still standing, thanks to our God, who has never left us, nor forsaken us. As you are reading this you already know that all of us are in crisis situations of one kind or another; some are facing financial ruin, others relationship troubles and family problems. I have two close friends that are each in a health crisis, and others that have lost close friends due to misunderstandings. What can make us all better, whole, healed, and able to face tomorrow?
A hymn by Charles A. Tindley says it for me: When the storms of life are raging, stand by me, when the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, Thou Who rulest wind and water, stand by me. Whatever is wrong, anchor yourself to the Rock of ages and sing with joy to Him in thankfulness for saving you out of your troubles.
Psalm 95:1 Come, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Hebrews 13:8 There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.
You can’t change the direction of the wind but you can let Jesus adjust your sails to get you through the storms of this life! You don’t have to be afraid He can calm the storm on the sea, or in your life, He says, “Peace be still!”
Harolene.com 