I wrote this article in March, 2016, but after realizing I hadn't published since the Oct., 2015 article about coming problems with my floor, I'm sending this as a follow-up. We are now 5 months past the installation of the new floor, and, praise God, no problems yet.
The "I
AM" Is In Control of Your Storm
Recently, our pastor, Greg Lester, gave a sermon on Matthew
14:22-33. Greg's words are in bold type, used with his permission.....
Jesus had just miraculously fed 5000 men (plus wives and
children) with a few loaves and fish! He
directed the disciples to get into the
boat and set out before Him, while He sent away the multitudes and then went up
into the hills by Himself to pray. A
terrible storm came up at sea. Around
4:00am, Jesus came walking on the sea to the disciples! Terrified, they thought it was a ghost
and screamed out in fright! But Jesus
instantly reassured them:
Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid.
Peter (seeing Jesus control of even the wind and the waves!),
in great faith and with Jesus' permission, scrambled out of the boat and began
walking on top of the water toward Jesus....until he took his eyes off
Jesus and began to sink.
We all have storms in our lives. Sometimes it seems like they will overcome
and destroy us.
The last few months have brought chaos and storm into my own
life. My new floor throughout the house
was ripped out, and the mold that was under the floor flew everywhere, leaving
gaping holes in the slab that then had to be filled and diamond ground and
reworked. Nothing was covered by insurance. Two contractors told me it was impossible to
fix. "Just sell it to an investor
and get out of the situation. "
Nevertheless, I now have a new tile floor throughout. However........ there is legitimate doubt
that what we may have not "fixed" the situation, and it may have to
be done all over again.
So I go back to the
five points of the pastor's sermon, "when
in a storm, remember"........
1. He
(the I AM) brought me here.
I ask myself: Did He deliberately direct me TO this place (w/ choosing a contractor who
did not put in a correct moisture vapor barrier under the wood floor, and now
possibly another contractor who took wrong steps again)?? Do I
trust Him?
I remember: there is no safer place to be
than in the center of His will. For
the disciples, that was in the middle of the lake, in the middle of a storm. For me, it is here, in this storm.
2. He
(the I AM) is saving us.
I remember the coping abilities that God has given me through this. And how He has carried me (and carried
Steven) through so many other storms in life.
And how He is carrying the persecuted church around the world through
much greater, even so much more horrible storms.
3. In the
storm.... Jesus is on the right side of God - advocating, interceding - for us (think about that!)
I remember Isaiah 43:2. When you pass through the waters, He is
with you - all the time.
What are you afraid of, Vic? What seems to be taking you under? He will give you a way of escape. He will give you minute by minute
grace and wisdom and strength.
4. He uses the storms to help us grow.
With the disciples, Jesus was praying
for their faith to increase. They had not gotten the picture. They needed to be shocked into
"getting" Who He is. They were not looking for Him - did not have
their hearts set on Him.
Remember: Jesus should be the first One we look to, and for, in the storm.
Many of David's
Psalms start with despair and crying out for rescue - but all end with
praise.
David was God's chosen. We are God's
chosen. God wanted from David and wants from
us: submit our heart to God in
contrition and obedience. He is
trying to teach me this contrition and obedience and trust. I
remember how He has drug me and flung me down to sacrificial praise - and how
it has lifted me up and carried me through the next turn of the storm.
The results of going
through the storm for the disciples:
Peter was changed. The disciples
said, "Truly You are the Son of
God."
5. He (the I AM) will see you through the storm.
We must remember: Don't take our eyes off Him and think of
other possibilities for chaos. Snuggle
up to Him.
The disciples were
called to a ministry that only they could do; you and I are called to a
ministry that only we can do. I remember
the opportunities that God has placed before me in the floor situation -
through all the chaos (continually) of the storms - many awesome opportunities
to witness.
And I remember.....
that
the Great I AM loves me with a love so immense and all-consuming
that He gave His life for me,
that He holds all the power of the
universe in His hands,
that He absolutely and unquestionably knows
what is best,
that all that comes to me through
the palm of His hand is for a good purpose.
And I remember that He said, while calmly stepping into darkness
and lightning and thunder and atrocious winds and waves higher than His head.....
Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid.
