Through The Storms

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This evening while watching "The Chosen" I was given a beautiful illustration of when Simon was going through a time of doubt and anger when he thought that Jesus didn't care about his trials, but cared about everyone else's needs even before his own disciples. It goes to the scene after Jesus had fed and preached to the five thousand and Simon had found a way to get the disciples back to their base through the sea rather than walking numerous miles. There was a great storm and all the disciples had gotten into a boat and were rowing across. The waves were tossing them all about and then they spotted a shadow in the distance of the boat in the turbulent waters. It turned out to be Jesus and he was walking on the water. At this point, Simon calls out to him and asks him to call him into the waters with him. Jesus tells him to come into the water and to not be afraid and to keep his eyes on him. Simon obeys his calling and starts to walk on the water toward Jesus. Jesus keeps encouraging Simon to keep his eyes on him. Simon of course gets distracted and sees the danger of the huge waves around him and sinks into the sea. Jesus offers Simon his hand and is pulled up out of the water and again Jesus tells Simon, do not be afraid, I got you. Simon is pleading with Jesus not to let him go and Jesus tells him again, I've got you. This is the part where I'm overcome with emotion.

We all have faced our storms. I have had many in my life. Those storms where you feel like your heart can't take anymore pain and is so overwhelming you feel like you could just die from the pain and hurt you are experiencing. It's unbearable. Personally, I have felt such torment that it takes me down to my knees and I've cried out to God and asked him why. And as you can see, by me sitting here writing about these storms, I've lived through them. Yes, I could get into the details of those storms, but that's not what this blog is about today. This blog is about how you get through them. No matter how big or how small.

There was a time, when I didn't rely on God and I would try and self medicate my pain with alcohol. Sometimes, I would try and drown my thoughts that were hurting me by playing heavy metal music so loud that my ears would ring afterward. Sometimes I would just isolate myself. Sometimes I would deny what I was actually feeling and make myself numb to the pain and feelings. There were even times, I would compound my suffering by making decisions that didn't make things better, but in fact, made them worse. But, here is the good news. I would come to my senses and remember that I was never alone and that I needed to call out to something greater than myself -- and that was through prayer. I had to redirect my focus. My primary focus has always been on Jesus, but having a village around you who is like minded and want to support you is important too. Most common are our own family and friends, but sometimes God sends a stranger. I know God has used me so many times to help my family and friends through something. Whether it was directly speaking to them about the situation or me just sending them flowers, a card, providing scriptures of encouragement, a book pertaining to their situation, offering food or making a phone call.

I don't know what might happen in the future and if any other big trials are out there for me,  but I know with my last truly painful event of my life, I was prayerful and relied on God to get me through. I have actually relied on him through most of my heavy duty issues. Because of the story of Jesus through the storm in the Bible, I often envision it and remember who is waiting for me on the other side of the pain and suffering, ready to take me and hold me and remind me that he is always there to get me through. 

I often see my family and friends going through some horrific trials (storms) and I just want their pain to go away. So I pray fervently over them and the situation. I usually let them know they are in my thoughts and prayers, but if they need me closer, I will be there for them. They often have reciprocated the same to me.

Psalm 34:17 "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (ESV)


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