Singing in the storm

This past month was all about praising in the storm – opening your mouth to let praises fill the air around you, whether you feel like it or not. “Until God opens a door, praise Him in the hallway”. Even if the storms are all around; yet He is still Saviour. Somebody made sense of this for me only very recently: 

The second yes is more difficult than the first. And if we knew that it would be, or what it would be like, we probably wouldn’t even take the first step. When Peter first stepped out from the boat, he couldn’t anticipate that he was going to almost drown a few steps later, struggle to admit his love for Jesus even later on, and eventually betray him. 

The yes-es are supposed to increase in difficulty, and that is okay. I knew this long ago. I remember writing a blog post about why we cannot see the future and why some things are hidden from us: it is so to keep us going. 1Cor13:12 “One day I will understand everything, just like everything about me has been fully understood”. This month in my little world, I felt I was walking on the sea, in the storm, and at times the hand leading me were… gone.

IN THE STORM

Yet, it is in the storm where our prayers are carried upon life-bringing winds that create rain on a different place. It is in the storm where our faith is strengthened as we become more and more dependent on Him to take our reached out hands. 

And that He did. Miracles happened; prayers were answered; growth occurred: and I’m not sure if it would have without the storm? I cannot say if this month would have held as much refining, without the heat. When I’ve trusted Him with one step and He’s been faithful, it’s easier to give more to Him. How can we say that God’s not working in our lives if we aren’t willing to trust Him with these first steps?  “His love becomes our greatest defense, when all we did was praise.” 

“The Lord is our refuge when troubles surround us.” Did He stop being good? Did the Sun stop shining? Did these lungs stop taking in breaths? Did every second stop being gift? Praising in the storm is for every day.

EVEN IF WE LOOK AWAY

So near the end of  this month, I found my sinking self at the bottom of this pit, when I finally realised: it’s me. I’ve been getting in my own way, by focusing so much on my own little world. Wasn’t it just last month where I learned about fixing my gaze on Him? Yes. But thís yes was different, it was (to no surprise) more difficult. 

What about you? What about me? The thing I’ve had to realise, again, was that it is not about us. It is only when we look outside of ourselves -and find the light in others, in the world, in blessings all around- that our eyes are opened. The veil is torn. We PRAISE, ether we see it or not, because everything is a gift.

And the next yes, is suddenly clear is day, because we looked up. Even though our feet might not know it yet, our eyes can see clearly. There, on the horizon, He’s been here all along! It’s such a wild feeling when you notice His silhouette behind the rain, clouds, and waters: “His heart is forever for us, even if we look away.”

(written November 2019 as a newsletter)