Stillness In The Storms

Stillness always comes after storms, if we're lucky sometimes it comes in the middle, sometimes before, but stillness always comes. Keep still and know that He is God.

How about those days when time stands still? Perhaps it's not for an entire day and yet, hours go by and you realize the quiet and wonder, “what should I be doing or thinking or acting on, at this moment?” Why is it so difficult to just enjoy the stillness in our lives. What if this stillness was designed for this exact moment? Because it has been, we can take no credit for it, It has nothing to do with us, however, often we combat it, not allowing it to bathe us in its peace. The stillness, this peace, has been predestined and therefore it is. What will you do with this moment, this gift of stillness?

Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.

Blessing to all those in current storms whether they are actual or internal. I pray the stillness in these times of chaos. Praying for you to know He is King of the flood and you can soar with Him above the storm, knowing He is God.

May God Bless you Oklahoma, May 2013 May God bless you New Jersey Sandy October 2012, May God Bless you NYC 9/11...

The storms come and they pass, leaving collateral damage. He never leaves us in the storm. We are quick to notice the devastation when in experiencing the chaos. We feel its immediacy, we ache for it to stop swirling about, sometimes to no end. It may be difficult in these storms to realize He is lifting you up, drawing you closer to Him.

In this life, there will be pain and yes, even devastation, however, this is not our home. This is not our ending. This in its entirety is a storm, that has an ending, this ending is in peaceful reconciliation to Christ our King.

There is a movie called Sweet Home Alabama, in this movie, it is by the lightning strikes that such beautiful glass artwork is formed.

This couple is broken from the mishaps of life. Broken from the lacking of the luster that is a relationship. They fell away from the polish of their relationship. Started giving way to earthly wants and wishes, forgetting what they have been all they need. They are lost and don't even know it. Angry and they don't know why. The storms in life are purposeful, they break us down and makes us look at the big picture. The whole story, and the story yet to be written. God uses everything.

In the brokenness of relationship is where things get the stillest. As difficult as the storms may be, they are necessary for our growth. We are smooth when things are good, nothing seems bumpy and so we take things for granted. Suppose the bumps along the way are allowed for a reason? When there is a pothole in a road, a work crew is sent to repair it. Often it takes time for it to arrive, the timing of repair is not for us to decide. To believe His timing is perfect when in the midst of the storm is difficult, but then, if these storms never came would our focus always be where it should? Is it easier to not look at the cause, when there are no broken places? How do we know it is not about us if we are not broken enough to know just that?

We talk about our broken places and they stink, they really do, however, is it not there in those places that we seek everything? Do we appreciate the movie ending because it was a smooth sail, or because they finally have the ah huh, moment where they get it and they learn and grow from it? Isn't the joy in the figuring out, we don't know everything, about anyone, really, until we go to Him first?

God is so cool that way, after our storms, sometimes during them, He gives us moments of stillness. In these moments we meet Him face to face, He lets the quiet envelop our mind and heart. He holds us still in contemplation, then sets us out into the chaos, only better equipped.

When we forget He is our everything, He reminds us. HE IS!

Yes, a relationship is everything. A relationship, starts with the faithful innocence, trusting in that safety of simplicity. Then lightning strikes and we so easily forget that God can make beauty from anything and from nothing. When lightening strikes in this movie, it's turned into amazing glass works. Are we not all a piece of glass in the eyes of God. Even if we break, is it not true that He can put us back together again. Never let go, we say it in our families, in our friendship and in our marriages and yet, we drop one another allowing another shatter to happen.

Don't you see He is everything, He picks you up, He has you in a relationship so He can kiss you anytime He wants? He is your everything, and every once in a while He lets you get a glimpse of Him in your relationships here on earth. If you let go of Him, He holds you tighter.

Maybe it's time to start seeing God in everyone and everything. Maybe it's time to hold on tighter to our relationships, working hard to make them everything for God. We need to start living for Him and picking up the pieces together. We can make some beautiful artwork out of the lightning strikes in our lives. If we remember He is EVERYTHING.

Thank you for the storms God and for the lessons learned.

Keep me strong and be my focal point for every lightning strike.

Help me, to know and feel that with every strike comes a beautiful work of art in You.

Use me for your great design and keep me still, so I may see and hear your whispers in the chaos.

Help me to trust in You and Your timing for my repair.

Help me to meet You in my broken places for You are the glue I need at all times.

Help me to praise You in the storms, as you know all that is for me, and You will do no harm, but rather bring me closer to You in the stillness.

Help me to allow it all and not to give into the things of this world, for with You there is no fear.

Help me to hear you in the rain.

Help me to always remember You are and will always be my EVERYTHING and in You are all I need.

You, Father, are the stillness in my storms.

None of us knows the storms that will come. None of us knows how long they will last. None of us knows if the damage will be repaired, or for that matter, if it will be repaired.

All we know is that in Christ alone our hope is found and He is our everything. Meet Him in the stillness, quiet yourself long enough for Him to speak to you. Be still even longer so you can hear Him and not everything else.

He is there, He is our everything!