“Hear this, you elders, And give ear, all you inhabitants of the land! Has anything like this happened in your days, Or even in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation. What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.”
Joel 1:2-4 NKJV
I remember delivering this sermon at one of our MUI Women’s retreats many years ago. I defined the four types of “storms.” As if they get any better.
Was a strong word – living every moment of that and still…
Saturday we got into an accident coming back from the city off the highway. It was rainy, my passengers were passed out –including my driver it looks like. I was just navigating through my phone, possible words with friends and stuff… then all of a sudden BOOM! Yes, things happen so fast. Everyone was okay on the outside but internally that was a different case. We could not even move the car as it stopped quickly from the impact that blew out the tires. I went to get out and he is telling me not to–but out I go to see the damage on this vehicle.
Just great! SIGH! There goes another story, racing down the highway to find the place this occurred to put an answer to the question – “What the heck happened?!?”
Could really find none. Unexplained situations.
I am definitely a little more emotional than usual. Probably didn’t handle that situation so great. But how many times does this go so well… wish no one else was around at that point but then not really. I think my insides were in turmoil with everyone else there too. We were all shook up but I guess my shaking is still lingering on me. I can’t seem to shake this disappointment that occurs in my life.
It’s not just the car, not the people, not the loss one after another–I think it is more so the consistency of it that cuts the most. These locusts. This is exactly the time I want to isolate even more but I know that is not the way. I can’t pitch a tent here except in the presence of the Lord–there I can pitch my tent.
“Settle the storm within your heart.” That is what I got today. So true. With our hearts, soul, mind and strength there are different types of storms that come our way. Time for a deeper type of travailing prayer. Let’s get to it. He hears our prayers.
His Spirit comes quickly to penetrate the battle in the mind during those storms so that He can provide hope and reassurance. His Spirit will call chaos, anxiety, and counterfeit lies into the light when you can’t identify them. Dust yourself off.
Serenity: Meditations of Acceptance, Courage, and Wisdom by Mike Shea
Related Writings (storm):
JusChrist4 
December 2nd, 2016 at 3:52 am
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