Of Storms and Souls


I've been looking at photos of the awful storm damage all over my Facebook newsfeed tonight. It is one of the unfortunate byproducts of living in the South--severe weather and the threat of tornadoes.  


I recently saw a report where a man was ripped out of his mobile home by the 170mph winds of an EF4 tornado and thrown 1300 feet--no lie--and landed safely on some dirt. He was tossed about but not injured at all.  

Tossed about but not injured. 

How is that even possible? I was so taken by that miracle.

I have been through many horrible, personal storms in my life. God has patiently held me as I wandered in and out of His will for me, allowing me to be tossed about but constantly protecting me from serious physical or psychological injury. 

Now I have come to a place in my life where I am learning that each storm I go through may not necessarily be meant to test me or to be some great trial with some huge soul lesson to learn. Sometimes, I may be placed in a storm because I am needed there. In the rain and wind, someone needs me to be there with them...to hold their hand, tell my story of pain, reveal God's story of grace, and let them know they are not alone.  

Amazing realization; tremendous responsibility. 

When I was a single mother, and tornado warnings were announced, I was scared--no, petrified with fear--that my young children would be ripped out of my arms if the roof blew off my house. Laugh if you want to, but I had heard horror stories of babies being pulled out of their mother's arms in a storm, and I refused to let it happen to me. If it was going to happen, I would be sucked out with them!!!

So I would take three belts, buckle them to each other end-to-end, and wrap them around my waist and then around each child's waist until we are all fastened together tightly inside this makeshift leather circle. Then we would sit in the hallway on a bunch of pillows, and I would read aloud from my Bible about how God controls the winds and waves....and we would wait for the storm to pass. (My kids, now adults, still give me a hard time about that!) 


And unrelated to a physical storm, I am sometimes prompted by the Holy Spirit to "get out the leather belts," strap them together, and gird up with those near me. This time, not for my children, but for God's children--my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am asked to sit in the hallway with them until their personal storm has passed.


It's not always about me.

Perhaps the stormy path I have been placed on is only about seeking the lost sheep, bringing the Kingdom into places where it has not been known before. I may be tossed around, but I won't be injured.

Awesome realization. Awesome responsibility. And, thankfully, amazingly, great peace

"Who is this man, that even the waves and the wind obey Him!" Mark 4:41




Comments

  1. Excellent point and one I've never thought of before! Thank you for sharing your mind and heart with us!
    Love and hugs,
    cisi

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for sharing this! I'm going to share it too; I've NEVER thought of this in this way before. Perspective! Thank you for sharing your mind and heart with us!

    ReplyDelete

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