Storms of Life

“There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, CSB).

One thing I glean from Solomon is that life continues on—it does not stop. Life goes on after tragic loss, or natural disaster and will go on beyond the current world pandemic.

I have learned to make days like anniversaries and birthdays of loved ones, now deceased, be days of remembrance. I have experimented with a variety of ways, such as going through photos, releasing balloons with messages of love, giving a memorial gift, reading old notes, cards, or emails from the loved one, and pausing to write.

In Observance
I observed my husband’s birthday, two years after his death by writing. During this year of the pandemic, I thought many may identify with the underlying emotions of loss and grief found in this excerpt because globally all have experienced some kind of loss and we are all weathering the storm.

I remember the man who swept me off my feet with his love. He came into my life like a gentle unexpected storm. The kind that clears the air and brings bursts of new life as everything begins to bloom with vivid color. That was how our relationship began. It was beautiful and fabulous. I truly saw the fingerprint of God in this man. I imagine that when God created this man He smiled as He designed my husband with that intensity.

Other storms, such as tornados, hurricanes, and fires are storms that threaten to destroy everything in their path, the dark fierce ones that cause us to seek safe shelter. Often following terrible destructive forces of nature, families, people, and cities need to rebuild. Frequently the rebuilt house, school, hospital, or city is better, stronger, and more prepared to withstand future storms.

Life and relationships contain both types of storms as well. My husband and I had our share of dark and destructive storms. The ones causing us to rebuild and work on our relationship. In nature, both gentle storms and fierce storms bring forth new life. Each does so on a different timetable and in different ways. The new life of one is witnessed immediately and the other takes a longer period of time but it does come.

There is hope!

In the midst of a storm that frightened the disciples, Jesus said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid”  (Matthew 14:27, CSB). Can we hear God speaking the same to us this year? Can we hear his words of hope and encouragement?

To withstand life’s storms,
seek shelter in the arms of God.

For Further Study
Read and meditate upon Matthew 14:22-33, James 1:2-8, and 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. How are you weathering the storm of Covid-19 life? Have you sought shelter in God during this year? Is there new growth coming from the storm of 2020?

Prayer
Father God, thank You for providing grace, healing, protection, and above all Your love. Thank You for the people You have allowed to be a part of my life past, present, and future. Let me see the gifts You present via their presence.

Lord, put a preparedness in me for the storms [trials of life] through a desire to be routinely reading, studying, and meditating upon Your word.

When the storms come, instill in me the instinct to seek refuge in You alone. You are the solid Rock in whom I can find shelter. In You, I can put my hope and trust.

Storm image by Tobias Hammer from Pixabay.