Standing in the Storm

Standing in the Storm

 You have heard the story of the family vacation.

The kids are becoming impatient.

And the car is full of two questions,

“Are we there yet?”

“When will we get there?”

Dad looks in the review mirror and says,

“We will get there when we get there!”

Children find the concept of time difficult to understand.

We also find God’s timing hard to understand.

It has been 6 years, two and a half weeks

since the Doctor told us Sandy had a brain tumor.

We immersed ourselves in the Lord.

On Mondays and Fridays,

we got up for a 2 hour prayer time at church starting at 5am.

Fasting and prayer filled our lives.

Worship music and scripture reading filled our home.

We even doubled up on church services.

TV was used to watch Joyce Meyers (a Christian preacher).

All of our focus had given us strength and peace,

but Sandy’s battle with

depression and anxiety had increased.

Sandy asked me what was wrong,

“Why am I having these attacks of anxiety?”

The Scripture in Ephesians 6:13 & 14 came to mind,

“When you have done everything to stand,

STAND FIRM!”

You and I many times think when we have done

everything God requires,

 the battle will be over.

But that’s far from the truth;

when we have done everything

it is now a time to “STAND!”

I am not sure Job could have done anything to shorten his suffering.

What could Daniel add to his fasting 21 days?

Yes, they could have given up and never made it.

If I were driving to Florida, there is not

much legally I can do to get there any faster.

But there are things I can do to

make the trip more enjoyable.

God has a destination;

a place where He wants you and I.

He knows how long it should take.

So when you have done all to stand;

then “stand!”

When I get behind the wheel and head to Florida,

and rain, snow, wind, face me,

I know I will get there if I keep going.

Don’t let Satan confuse you by making

you think there are hundreds of thing

you need to do to end a trial.

There is only one thing to do

and that is be faithful and

leave the time up to God.

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand

against the devil's schemes.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities,

 against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,

so that when the day of evil comes,

you may be able to stand your ground,

and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then,

with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness

that comes from the gospel of peace.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,

with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the Word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions

with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind,

be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.