A couple nights ago when I was driving home, the sky looked like this:
That made me think. I've heard a lot of sermons, songs, etc, lately about storms. I feel like this is something we hear a lot of simply because it's a good analogy. I had a thought a few months ago though that I don't really remember thinking before & I'm not quite sure where it came from.
In the story where Jesus is sleeping on the boat while there's a storm & the disciples seem appalled that He isn't awake & immediately at their rescue [Mark 4]...remember that one? Well, that was the absolute safest place for them to be. On the water in the midst of a storm? Yep. Because they were with Jesus. Even in the middle of a storm, whether that be a literal storm, or something like sickness, unemployment, grief, confusion...the safest place we can be is IN the storm with Jesus. I just like that thought.
So I think when we're at the point where the storm is raging all around us, yet we can feel peace, we can absolutely KNOW that we are in the presence of Jesus, & there's nowhere else we'd rather be.
Even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life,
I won't turn back; I know You are near.
Oh no, You never let go.
[Matt Redman, "Never Let Go"]
Wonderful reminder, thank you. Another great song to listen to on this topic is "Praise You in this Storm" by Casting Crowns. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteWe had storms here last night and I was at a baseball game....I got some awesome pictures of the storm coming in, I'll post them soon!
Such a great post.. and a great reminder, that the best place to be in a storm is beside Jesus. There was a "storm" in my life last night, and it was so awesome to wake up and read this post. Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Elizabeth
love this.
ReplyDeleteJust popped over from faith blogs. Also checked out your shop and realized i have "hearted" some of your work on Etsy before! love it, now we just had a bigger house so I could actually get a few pieces.... :)
wow. these words are so encouraging. they hit home. i love them = "the safest place we can be is IN the storm with Jesus." - that's right!
ReplyDeletemmmm I love this. it reminds me of the verse from the song "how he loves" where it says, "Love like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy." so good.
ReplyDeleteMegan