I’d never really thought about storms very much. That was until a storm blew through Fountain City last week and leveled trees, power lines, and dropped almost two inches of water within an hour. I was one of the lucky ones! I did not have any of my trees fall, although a neighbor’s tree was struck by lightning and came dangerously close to falling on my newly planted garden. As I sat in the dark that night because I did not have any power, I tried to remind myself how fortunate I really was. Yes, I was inconvenienced a little bit but I had weathered the storm fairly well.
I’ve been thinking a little bit more about the storms that come with the emergence of spring and summer. Some of these storms seem to build suddenly; others can be tracked for days in advance. Some people like storms and marvel at the energy and power contained within this force of nature; others, like my cat, tend to hide away for hours at the first sign of a storm. Unfortunately, there are storms that can bring devastation to many parts of our world; some storms bring much needed rain and refreshment to the earth. But what happens when these storms are not the kind that occur within nature but happen within each of us? What do we do when storms rage within our lives? Where do we turn when things get hard?
These are the questions that have prompted me to do a sermon series this summer in The Journey entitled “Lifeline.” You see, we pastors have been watching and listening to many members of our congregation who are going through storms in their lives right now. Maybe they are in danger of losing their home due to foreclosure or have jobs that have been terminated because of the slow economy. Some of these storms are due to illnesses either with an individual or with someone they love. We’ve walked with people who are experiencing grief because of someone they have lost or maybe they are trying to hold their own as they endure a crisis within their family. Whatever the cause of these personal storms, whether they have come on suddenly or have been building for a while, the question remains: “What do I do now?” Let me offer a few suggestions:
- There is a Lifeline: Regardless of how difficult or frustrating things may be, there is a God who loves you and will walk through these storms with you.
- Hold on: When you are tempted to let go, call one of us pastors or a trusted friend. No matter how heavy the burden, it is always lighter when you have someone to share it with.
- Get back to the basics: Allow your faith in God to be the foundation that will see you through any storm. Come to worship where you can be reminded of God’s love for you and be surrounded by a group of people who truly care about you. Be involved in spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible or praying that helps to grow your faith in God.
- Serve someone: Take the time to help someone else. It will not only be good for them, it could remind you how fortunate and blessed you really are.
Storms can be funny things. One moment, the storms are raging outside and threatening to shake the foundations of our world. The next moment, the storms have passed by and the sun comes out again as bright as ever. Our prayer is that you would find your lifeline that would allow you to weather the storms that come. May God give us all the strength and faith to cling closely to the God who loves us and will always be present with us. Praise be to God for his love that withstands all the storms of our lives!
- Melissa
