Storms of Life

Ever feel like you are just merely surviving in life, like there is no light at the end of the tunnel?  Maybe you even know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it sure does not feel that way.  That is how I have felt this last week, I find myself in a particular season where life is just beating me down and it is doing a pretty good job!  Any and all plans that I had for this summer have been tossed out the window, I’m in the process of moving both physically and mentally into a different stage of life, I am stressed about finances and bills, I am dealing with feelings of  loneliness and I am dealing with negativity in the workplace.  Life is winning this battle, and I am letting it.  Have you ever felt this way?

You can only ignore negative emotions for so long, until they come back again.  They will continue to come back until they are defeated for good.  That’s where I am now trying to rise above this storm and gasp for air.  I am drowning in the midst of this storm and if I can just get back to the surface I tell myself that I will be fine.  But eventually this too shall pass, but what about the next storm and the next storm?  There will always be a storm, it is only a matter of how I learn to deal with them.  Every time I find myself trying to defeat my storm on my own, and every time I find that I am not strong enough to do so.

I can do it on my own, and can get stressed out, sick and torn to shreds or I can seek my heavenly Father.  It sounds like such an obvious thing to do, but if you are anything like me it is so hard to ask for help! I am a “I’ve got this!” kind of girl through and through.  Ask my parents they will tell you, I will try and try until I can not do it anymore before I ask for help.  And as much as it hurts to say it this is a pride issue that I have, and all too often it carries over into my spiritual life as well.  “I got this God, thanks anyway”!  If only I could learn to ask for His help when I begin to feel the raindrops rather than after I have begun to drown…

“He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves”. Psalm 107:29

So here I am again crawling back into His presence tired, and worn out.  As always there He is reaching out His arms to and pulling me safely to shore.  And here I am being vulnerable with each of you, reminding you that you do not have to do it alone.  I do not know where this storm of life is taking me, or what’s on the other side of it.  I do however know that I have a Heavenly Father walking beside me.  He may not calm the storm right now, but He will calm me.  I have everything I need and I find that in Him alone.

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.” Psalm 57:1

That’s where I find myself today, searching for truths in His word to get through today, and then tomorrow I will do the same.  It’s a daily process of choosing God or choosing my way.  I am not promised tomorrow or next week, but I have right now!  Today I find comfort in Isaiah 43: 1-2 :

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

I do not know what you are dealing with or going through, but I do know that God is so much greater!  This may feel like the end of the world, but it isn’t.  We are not Christians seeking a victory, we are Christians who have the victory.  I have read the last book of the Bible, and we win.  When you come across a storm in life don’t be like me and try to ride it out alone, rather turn to God immediately and grasp His hand.

 ^“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with himself.  Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. ” Romans 8:31-39

No storm can separate you from God!  If you are going through a storm right now, please feel free to leave a prayer request in the comments, in return I ask that you pray for me that I will continue to seek God and not try to do this own my own!

Thank-you & God Bless ❤︎,