Have you ever been on a plane that went through turbulence? Have you ever gripped the arms of the seat so hard that your knuckles turn white? I have and I’ve seen it happen with other people.
Recently , a friend of mine shared the story of her and her daughter’s most recent plane ride and how they travelled through a rather enlightening lightening storm. The pilot skillfully guided the plan to rise above the lightening storm. As the plane took maneuvers to rise above there was no turbulence at all. The rising above gave a different perspective as they were able to look down upon the storm and exclaim , “How cool”!
Jesus can and does intervene in life’s circumstances and helps us to rise above them and to look at them with a different perspective. We still have to face them. Now following Jesus doesn’t mean that Jesus removes us from the storms of life. Instead He promises us a different perspective. He promises to be the solid ground on which we stand, making it possible for us to endure the storms of life. And, of course, the opposite is true that when we choose to stay in the storm then we choose to concentrate on the shifting sands around us.
The problem with storms is that they are unpredictable. There are the physical storms that cause damage but there are also the emotional storms that come with a whole different set of emotions. Will I lose my job? Will I financially be able to provide for my family? Will I ever be free from addiction? And you can insert your own personal question here.
Every season of life is different and brings with it its own set of “storms”.
The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 40:28-31,
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
We follow Jesus not because our lives will be storm free. We follow Jesus, because, through the storm, the turbulence, He promises to never leave or forsake us – to be the solid ground on which we stand.
Where are you standing in the turbuence or storms that you facing today?
Where are you placing your hope today? You too can rise above the turbulence.
