As I sit here listening to the rain I have a choice, grumble and complain about the storm or get up and dance through the storm. I have done my share of complaining and I bet you have been caught up in complaining and sulking during your storms in life.
Life is full of hurts, inconvenience, disappointments, anger issues and baggage that we carry. When those days come it is so easy to complain. It starts off complaining that the kids made a mess, the traffic was unbearable, the neighbors are too loud. Then we just keep going until what is going on in your life is everyone else’s fault. I have been there and I don’t like me in that place. Storms and trials are a part of life, but sometimes we want to stand in the middle of the kitchen and look to heaven and say “come on can’t I get a break, haven’t I been through enough. I thought You loved me, Your child. Enough is enough. (Big long SIGH)” One particular day as I sat there tearing apart my life, my place in this world and why was I even here. God showed up, met me where I was and said “Are you done yet?” I was a little shocked when I realized what I was doing; I was taking my life apart and calling it bad, not worth it and I was quitting on life. God made me in His image and He loved me. Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image…” Then in Psalm 139:13-14″
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
God created us and in Genesis He saw His creation and it was good. I started feeling guilty; I always put myself down and eventually it was not just me I was putting down and criticizing, but everywhere I went, work, Church, school, home, nothing was sacred. God began by showing me His love for me. I started seeing myself in His eyes and whenever those thoughts came up, He taught me to seek Him in scriptures and prayer. This prayer leaked into my daily walk and I started to pray for people, my church, ministries, my bosses, company, employees and anything I usually complained about, but decided to be positive about. Wow is all I can say, my Storms would rage within me, but would not consume me. I was able to withstand my storm. In Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.NIV ” Trees are strong and tall and they can withstand a storm. What happens when trees are not watered, fed or properly cared for? Do the roots start dying? Are they still able to withstand the storms? Maybe by luck or maybe someone comes alongside and nurtures it…Just like Jesus does for us. Then I thought of birds and how strong they are. Have you been out on a windy day and watch the birds? They are holding on to that reed or limb and swaying with it. Do I let myself sway when I am in a storm? I strive to. Being in prayer and the Word has given me the roots to dig deep and stand tall so I am not toppled over at the first sight of trouble and have the ability to sway with wind and keep my place. God has given me so much, I strive to not complain and when I feel it coming into thought, I pray, read scripture or quote it from memory. I was/am done being a “negative Nancy” and strive to build up, come along side and learn from God how to find the rainbows in the storms of life and dance away. We all can have stuff happen; how are we going to react to it? I choose to be positive and give whatever is bothering me and my circumstance to God in prayer. Then I go one step further…I come up along side those I see struggling, and hurting to help them find peace and be able to dance in their storm. I hope you all are having a great week and if a storm comes through DANCE.
Lori