have you ever noticed how brilliant the sunshine looks after a storm? last night we had a really big storm here- lots of rain, wind and hail. it was a little scary with tornado warnings. mainly it just makes me feel vulnerable. kindof like a sitting duck and not knowing where the storm is, where it’s coming from, how it’s defined, what it’s effects will be and etc. it’s just not a good feeling. even more so, now that I am a mom. these little people mean more to me than life itself and I want to protect them with everything I have. so I watch, prepare and worry a little. (read on)
then the storm passes. calm comes over me. peace resides again. and then the next day- the sun shines in like never before. it just seems to radiate. it’s beautiful. again you realize what really matter in life, what you would have risked your life saving. and you breathe a sigh of relief and hold on to those creatures like never before. and you praise God for another day, another chance to do it right, another chance to love well, laugh, live.
don’t you think it’s that way too with the storms of life. they roll in sometimes out of nowhere. there may be some warning signs, but you don’t really know what to expect. and they hit with varying degrees of damage. but you hunker down, hold on tight to what matters, lean on the Lord and His protection- knowing that He can do all things. and then it passes, sometimes as quickly as it came. and peace comes back. perspective comes back. and the Son shines in- like never before. and then you look at those things in your life that matter the most and you redirect. you choose to live, love and laugh. you choose to keep on experiencing the real meaning of life. you are thankful for the hand of the Lord and know that your relationship with Him has deepened yet again. And you sigh. you know more storms will come, but you choose to reside in peace. and you let the Son warm your cheeks like never before and you dance.
so I encourage you, in the middle of the storms, to look for the Son. You may not see Him in the darkness, but you know from experience- either yours or mine, He will come. He never fails. some storms last longer than others. some are more painful and destructive. but the healing, restoration process is something of beauty. let Him shine on you; let Him fill you; let His light radiate through you. hold tight in the storm, knowing the Son will radiate soon enough and you will be forever changed.