The Storm

During a walk in the woods, we came around a corner and saw this tree.

I was awestruck when I first saw it. Standing tall, 

with so many roots exposed. 

Alive.

It had not died from the wind and the storms that had obviously ravaged it. 

Instead, it dug deeper, finding the life giving water that 

would continue to help it grow. 

I knew there were lessons in this tree.

One of those lessons is in the words I added below it.
Not my words, just a simple quote that seemed to fit.

So often, the storms of life toss us back and forth,

and they leave us uprooted, broken, damaged, defeated,

and sometimes we even feel dead inside. 

Christians aren't given a pass on this. We go through the storms too.

Sometimes we are stoic, while really thinking we should be stronger than we are.

Sometimes we break under the pain and pressure,

and forget that there is living water, that will never run dry.

And other times, we call out to the One who calms the storm.

Last week I heard a man by the name of Mark Hall speak about this.

He's the lead singer of a band called "Casting Crowns."

He's in a storm. 

He recently found out he has a cancerous tumor on his kidney. 

He's a husband, a father, a musician, and a minister.

He is also remembering WHO is in control of this. 

I was moved by his words.

You see, one of Casting Crowns biggest hits, cowritten by Mark Hall, is called:

"Praise You in This Storm"

"I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

[Chorus:]

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away"

There's a little more too.

Here's the link for this beautiful song, with Mark Hall singing the words.

I hope you have a few minutes to listen.

Maybe some of you have a friend or loved one 

going through a similar storm, like I do. 

Or maybe you're going through a storm yourself. 

I frequently fail during trials and storms. 

I forget WHO'S got this.

Or if I remember, I ask Him WHY He doesn't do it MY way.

He's all powerful, He can fix this. He can make it go away.

That's MY way.

And He just says

"Rest in Me. Can't you get that? I'm with you."

But all too often, I don't rest in Him. I forget to. I rest in fear.

I rest in self-pity. I rest in others. I rest in sadness. I rest in anger. I rest in shame. 

I rest in....(fill in the blank, there are so many others).

Wait.

That's not rest. 

None of those things feel like rest. They feel like...What?

They feel like...I'm stuck in something I can't get myself out of,
and I'm spinning out of control.

Then He gently reminds me that HE has this,

Whatever "this" may be. 

And I can rest in Him.

The last words of the song are straight out of scripture:

"I lift my eyes up to the hills,

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Ps. 121: 1-2

Oh, that I could remember these words every time a storm comes!

A couple of days ago Mark Hall had surgery, and now he's recovering.

His family is praising God that they caught it early.

I believe they'd be praising Him if they didn't, too.

"For You are who You are, no matter where I am"

is a line from the song.

One of my favorite "storm" verses is Luke 22: 31-32, although it doesn't 

use the word "storm" at all.

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat,

but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you,

when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

That is Christ talking to Simon Peter. 

He's telling him that Satan is going to sift him like wheat.

(Think about the process of "sifting"...it's "storm like" stuff!)

Then he's telling him that Satan had to ask His permission first.

(God is in control, remember that Satan
had to ask for permission to "sift" Job, too).

He's also telling him that He didn't tell Satan "No"
(that would be my choice!)

but instead, He (Christ) prayed for Peter.

He Intervened...

on Peter's behalf. 

(Just like He intervenes on our behalf).

And then He tells Peter that He prayed that his faith wouldn't fail,

and that when his (Peter's) faith is strong again,

he should use what he's learned to strengthen others.

I love that :) 

It's not always easy to share our storms,
they're painful, they show our vulnerability, they expose the real us,

but they can also help someone who is facing a similar storm.
I'm thankful that Mark Hall was willing to expose his.
He reminds us that storms hit everyone,
but we never have to be alone in the midst of one.
"and every tear I've cried,
You hold in your hand
You never left my side"

Btw, here's a photo of Casting Crowns newest album cover.

Thrive :)

and a tree showing it's deep roots.

 I hadn't seen this until after I started writing this post.

After, I'd chosen that old, deep rooted tree for the photo :)

Share the song with someone who's going through a storm,

because I'm pretty sure it will strengthen them too :)