Storms, no one really likes storms unless you were taught as a kid that you can dance in the rain.

If you were taught that you can put on your swimsuit and play with soap and that rain washes and cleanses. Most of us I think tend to find it an inconvenience because storms keep us in. Stuck. We learned that storms are a necessary evil. Yet, storms are more beneficial than we think. So it is with spiritual storms. We either learn to run into the storm and let it wash away what must go or we learn to run and hide inside and try to protect and defend against every blast of wind.

God knows what is needed …the question is do I trust that?

ADVENT ….comes to shake us awake and anew but may feel like a storm

I run when I am uncomfortable. I hide when I feel attacked by this life and when I don’t want to face something unpleasant. I tuck myself away but the more I retreat the more He presses in on me and I feel the heaviness. I mistake it for guiltiness or wrongness. I misinterpret it as broken, wounded, rejection, then when I finally turn my face toward Him and say, “God help me! I don’t know what to do.” I find that this heaviness that I feared was pain was Him hugging me close. His pressing into me. It is there that I can feel myself relax and rest in His arms of love and I repent for running in the first place. There the storm that was raging all around calms as my soul remembers that He has me and He is in full control. I do not have to fear. I can trust and obey and I am free.

Thank you for chasing me with the storm of Yourself

Journal this or at least ponder and bring your thoughts to God:

How does God come to you in the midst of a storm? How has He shown up and calmed it all?

All is grace,

Starla