Lifestorms

Lately the storms in my life have been completely insane - and they are so horrific at times that if I take my eyes off of Christ for just a second and simply glance at the storms - I lose it. I break down. I absolutely have to keep focused on Christ right now - just to survive these crazy lifestorms!!

God is not choosing to calm the storms in my life right now. He is choosing instead to use these storms to strengthen my faith and my trust in Him. He is choosing to calm me - not the storms. And you know what? That's just fine with me! I've learned the hard way in the past what happens when I don't trust Him or when I try to face these storms on my own. Now I want to keep focused on Him. I don't want to see the lifestorms. They are too big and too scary for me. I just want to see Him. He is all I need. His grace is sufficient. He is in control. He is bigger than these lifestorms. He could calm these storms with His hand. Just a word from Him could silence every storm.

I keep reminding myself of these things over and over. God IS in control. He IS bigger. His grace IS sufficient. His strength is ALL I need. He IS my all in all. These aren't just Christian cliches. They are absolute truths. They are deeply resounding truths in my life - especially lately.

There have been a few times lately when I have taken my eyes off of Christ for a quick glance at the lifestorms - and let me tell you - those times were not pretty. (And thank you to those who dealt with me during those moments!!) I can't imagine where I'd be if I turned my face away from Him and looked full-on at these storms! If it's been that ugly when I take a quick peek - I don't want to know how devastating it would be if I took a long look.

Unfortunately, there are many people looking at the wrong things right now. Natural disasters are striking day after day. Lives are being lost daily fighting in a war overseas. Violence is disrupting innocent lives all over the globe. During these lifestorms, people aren't keeping their focus on Christ. They are looking the wrong way. Even on calm days there are those who aren't seeking His face but are choosing instead to focus on things of this world that have no eternal significance. I desperately want to turn their heads towards Christ and refocus their attention on eternal things. I can't imagine facing a single day - especially days filled with lifestorms - without the hope and peace granted through Christ. My heart aches for those who are looking at the wrong things. I can't imagine how scary, hopeless, meaningless, and depressing life must be for them.

Of all the things I've ever learned in my Christian walk, the most important has been to keep my eyes on Jesus. If my focus is on Him, I know it's all going to be okay. Yes - storms will still come and trials will still test me. But if I'm looking at Him, those things will not shake me. I can stand firm in full assurance that He is bigger than anything this life can throw at me.

So - where is your focus right now?


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"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~2 Corinthians 3:17-18

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~Hebrews 12:2

"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." ~1 Chronicles 16:11

"Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." ~Psalm 105:4 (Hmmm... same exact verse twice... think He wanted us to make sure we GOT this one?!)

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." ~Colossians 3:2

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14