Wait or Dance??

I can make this one easy tonight...cut and paste. I know a lot of people going through rough times right now...myself and family included. As I was posting this picture to a friends page tonight, it reminded me of a devotional type writing I wrote about 2 years ago now. It was a good reminder to read this. As in my mind I sometimes feel like what I wrote about might become a reality to us soon, "no job, no car, no electric" I know that God will not let that happen to us...and quite frankly IF he does.....it was meant to happen. God teaches us a lesson in everything we go through and it is only to help make us stronger, and also to realize that no matter what we go through here on Earth....this is not our home.           Enjoy the read...    

Wait or Dance?

A few days ago terrible storms passed through the area. Strong winds, lots of lightening, trees and wires were down everywhere, some areas were flooded. It was a mess! The next day at work I was taking a patient back. While I was checking his vitals he was making small talk and mentioned, “It’s a nice day out there today”. I thought about it. The sun was shining, big white fluffy clouds floating in a sea of blue, the humidity was down, the temperature was perfect. Yeah, it really was a “nice day”. I thought, “well, the storm took away the humidity and brought the temperature down, and the rain made way for blue skies, so really, it was the storm the day prior that made this day so beautiful. But can’t rainy, stormy days be considered beautiful too?”

We know it takes a day like that to bring a truly beautiful day. So why can’t we see the beauty of the storm? It makes me think of the quote, “Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Isn’t this what God tries to teach us? He is always there for us, steadfast and loyal, in the good times and the bad. Ephesians 3:12-13, “In Christ, we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ. So I ask you not to become discouraged because of the sufferings I am having for you. My sufferings are for your glory.” Proverbs 20:24, “The Lord decides what a person will do; no one understands what his life is all about.”

We never know what might happen next, only God knows. It’s all part of his perfect plan. Thankfully, we are not without hope during these trials. So many people have been through horrific times dealing with suffering and loss, grief and despair. Take Job for example. At one site he lost all his oxen and donkeys, his servants slain. In another pasture his sheep and servants burned to death by a fire that fell out of the sky. Then his camels were stolen and those servants killed. To bring everything to a tragic end, he got word that the house collapsed where all of his grown children were eating together. No one survived. Can you imagine? Put it into today’s perspective. First, you lose your job. You now don’t have enough money to pay the bills so eventually your car is taken in the middle of the night, repossessed. A few weeks later your electric is shut off. You are cold, have no food in the house, what you wouldn’t give for even a piece of toast and a glass of juice. Then, you get a phone call. Your grown children were taking a trip together and the car they were driving was struck head on by an 18-wheeler, no survivors. What would you do? What would you do? You want to know what Job did? He “let go and let God.” He stumbled into relinquishment. He realized who are we to determine our destiny? Who are we to counsel God? Who are we to try to reason with the holy? Job 2:10, “Should we only take good things from God and not trouble?”

One of my favorite verses, James 1:2-3 states “my brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.” Steven Curtis Chapman lost his young daughter in a tragic series of events. His son was backing the car out of the driveway and didn’t see his little sister playing. She was run over and did not survive. His song, “Beauty Will Rise” was written based on the tragic event. His lyrics read, “Out of these ashes beauty will rise. We will dance among the ruins.” He learned that the Lord has a mighty plan that slowly unfolds even in the worst times of our lives, and while we are waiting out the storm, God is with us.

If you haven’t invited God into your heart I encourage you to do so. As you can see, all the troubles we endure, all the pain, all the suffering is for his Glory. We will reap the benefits of our suffering when we arrive in heaven. Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying or pain-because all the old ways are gone.”

So back to our thunderstorm, I’ll leave you with Psalm 29 starting at verse 3, and the next time you are caught in a storm, whether a real one or another storm of life, think about it. Are you going to wait for it to pass or are you going to dance in the rain?

The Lord’s voice is heard over the Sea.

The glorious god thunders.

The Lord thunders over the ocean.

The Lord’s voice is majestic.

The Lord’s voice breaks the trees

The Lord breaks the Cedars of Lebanon.

He makes the land of Lebanon dance like a calf

And mount Herman jump like a baby bull.

The Lord’s voice makes the lightening flash

The Lord’s voice shakes the desert

The Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh

The Lord’s voice shakes the Oaks

And strips the leaves off trees

In his temple everyone says “Glory to God!”

The Lord controls the flood

The Lord will be King forever

The Lord gives strength to his people

The Lord blesses his people with peace.