Reporters in the news are saying that three years ago Hurricane Sandy really shook us up here in New York City and even beyond that. I remember that time really well. Power outages, a boat load of rain and business closings. We couldn’t even go to work. We stood home protected as we were all plugged into the TV watching the news for moment to moment updates. It was really frightening to even go outside because the winds and rain were so heavy. I am so thankful that season is over, even though we have to be on guard for any other storms that could arrive. We learn how to prepare and move through those inevitable catastrophic events. It just happens.
In the same way we can all reflect on our storms in life that have really hit home! I reflect today of how many storms hit us all. I am thankful to know He has answered and delivered too.
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
Psalm 3:4-5 (NKJV)
I have cried out to God with everything that I had and He heard my voice. I see the results and I see that He was always moving on my behalf. He heard me and He sustained me! To sustain is to support, hold, or bear up from below; or bear the weight of, as a structure. This is how the Lord works when we call out to Him from the depths of our souls.
How do I know that this works? Because when everything is raging war around you –He holds you up. He gives you the ability to bear the weight because of His strength in you. You will notice that you respond to things differently. Your behavior patterns change. Your dependency on addictions leave. Your joy returns to your heart. You laugh again. You love again. You have hope again. All those things return when you really give Him all those things that were trying to bring you down.
When the hurricanes try to pop up, rest assured He IS your support. Just as He was mine. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Cast your cares on the Lord
and He will sustain you;
He will never let
the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
These are the precious promises of God:
- Protection
- Peace
- Provision
So when the hurricanes of life come your way, you shall be sustained. You shall not fall; you shall not faint! But apart from Him, calamity will be fierce! God is our mechanism for survival. We have to latch on to Him. We have to cling on like never before so that we can pass through valiantly and triumphantly. Especially when we have had experienced great victories. For quickly things will rise to test our faith.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 (NKJV)
Without God on my mind, I have done foolish things.
Without God in my life, I have not had the strength that I needed.
Without God by my side, I have not been able to succeed.
Now I know and see the fruit of sticking closely to Him through a daily and active communication. When I wake, He is on my mind. When I am moving through my varied emotions, I am seeking Him through prayer and His word. When I need fellowship, I bring myself to the house of the Lord. When I have to work in ministry, I continue to explore my God-given abilities. Through all of that–I feel His grace upon me. I know that He is with me and I am in a place of peace that I have never been before.
Though many hurricanes have come our way, just like the one of Sandy three years prior–we got through it. And we will continue to get through all of them as we lean on our God that is Almighty!
That is why I love looking at trees because as the wind blows swiftly through them, they are planted firmly and are immovable. That is how we are, as we plant ourselves deeply in Him. No hurricane can get in the way of that. No wind, rain or storm…nothing can stop that structure that God builds in us, for it is such a safe place to be.
JusChrist4 
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