The calm before the storm…
By char on Sep 29, 2008 in Digi Faithbooking
I’m not sure, but I think it’s a scientific weather kind of fact that there is usually calm before a storm. Like things get still, and then WHAM, the thunder claps and the lightning strikes. (I probably should go look it up to be sure, but I’m too tired to google much right now).
Anyway, excuse me while I get really personal for a few minutes. And you’ll have to excuse me because I don’t have a layout, or even a digi-scrap challenge for you today. Just some thoughts to share.
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the “storms” going on in our life, and in the lives of those around us. It seems like it’s just been one thunderstorm after another for awhile… pretty much all summer long. Cancer, illness, life-threatening allergies, relationships falling apart, hurting people all around us…
I was thinking back today… thinking over the last few months… wondering if we had any calm before these particular round of storms, and honestly – I can’t remember! I’ve been stuck in the rain and the downpour for so long, I don’t remember the dry. I had to laugh as I thought about the idea of being perpetually wet – “it’s probably time for an umbrella already, don’t you think”, I said to myself.
And then I smacked myself, “DUH”. We DO have an umbrella. We DO have a shelter in the storm. We DO have a cleft in the rock in which to hide. I think it’s time I focus a little more on the RELIEF and a little less on the GRIEF. I need to stop wishing things would go back to “normal”. As my mother would say, “I think this is the NEW normal”.
I thought for a little while this afternoon about doing a layout and challenging YOU to do one too, but instead I headed over to youtube, and found a video to share. This song by Casting Crowns says it all.
So, for today I’m going to sit still and try to enjoy the drizzle. I’m going to stop waiting for the rain to stop and the clouds to clear, and I’m going to enjoy whatever MOMENTS of stillness I can find – storm or otherwise.
And I’m going to offer my praise… in the storm. What about you?
What a GREAT post. You should totally link up for Gratituesday with this. I don’t think the rain’s gonna let up for you very soon either…but it’s amazing what a long, cleansing rain can do to make everything green and fresh again. Again, what a great post.
Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers | Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
Beautifully written! Read these old words by Fanny Crosby:
In Thy cleft, O Rock of Ages,
Hide Thou me;
When the fitful tempest rages,
Hide Thou me;
Where no mortal are can sever
From my heart Thy love forever,
Hide me, O thou Rock of Ages,
Safe in Thee.
From the snare of sinful pleasure,
Hide Thou me;
Thou, my soul’s eternal treasure,
Hide Thou me;
When the world its power is wielding,
And my heart is almost yielding,
Hide me, O Thou Rock of Ages,
Safe in Thee.
In the lonely night of sorrow,
Hide Thou me;
Till in glory dawns the morrow,
Hide Thou me;
In the sight of Jordan’s billow,
Let Thy bosom be my pillow;
Hide me, O Thou Rock of Ages,
Safe in Thee.
Donna | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
Your post was so encouraging to me. I had read a quote somewhere that says something like – God won’t bring you to a storm that He won’t bring you through.
Have a blessed day!
Sherry | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
The new normal! Thankfully we always have the shelter from the storm no matter the size of that storm!
Marie | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for this post. It is a great reminder. I would add that even in the middle of the storms there is one who is still in control and He will carry us through. I love the words by Fanny Crosby that were shared in the comments as well. So true.
lorig | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
I can so relate to what you are talking about. Business woes for my dh and me just about put us under, but then I thought just to keep the faith and if the business goes under, then we will do something else. That was a year ago, and the business is there and slowly comeing back. We are actually going to start another business in the next month or so. I don’t want to ever quit!
Tammy | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
“There’s a world of hurt out there” is what my mortgage banker likes to say and I so agree. I can so relate to your post that it sure does seem like the ones around us, including ourselves, have had so many issues to deal with for what seem close to a year, mostly financial but other things, too.
So, on that, I like your post a lot and thanks for the great video.
KattyZak | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
Oh I smack myself ’round the side of the head quite often LOL Sometimes you get so caught up in the whirlwind that you need to force yourself to stop and just listen.
Mousey | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
I could not agree more. It also says it in one of my all time favorite songs. In this song, it tells us how sometimes God lets us go thru the storm, He just HOLDS us through it. Here’s the words {its sung by Scott Krippayne} Also if you would like to HEAR it sung, just visit this address
http://www.actionext.com/names_s/scott_krippayne_lyrics/sometimes_he_calms_the_storm.html
Sometimes He Calms The Storm
All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place
Hope it spoke to you, too. Thanks for sharing your thougths.
Warmly,
Barb
Barb Derksen | Sep 30, 2008 | Reply