A Storm Is Gathering

I like stability. Where things stay mostly the same. Life isn’t like that.

In America, our personal storms tend to be existential. Other countries, it’s more survival. Am I going to eat? We’re more developed here.

I’ve yet to feed a homeless person who was only one meal from dying. The poor live better than the middle class in our country a hundred years ago. Maybe even fifty years ago.

I say all that because I’m watching storm clouds gather in my life and it’s not existential. The waters are stirring with uncertainty. I think about the time the disciples were in a storm, and only one got out of the boat to go to Jesus. Peter.

I’m more like the other eleven, if I’m honest with myself. It has me worried. Being in my position, I can’t show the totality of my worry, but I cannot appear to be naive either.

What does Jesus say about my worry?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-34

I have to preach this to myself. I don’t like instability, but walking by faith is easy when you know what’s coming.

I’ve seen God come through time and time again. He doesn’t promise a comfortable life. He does promise that He’ll be there every step of the way.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Through this time, I’ve asked a few prayer warriors to pray. Because this is how I fight my battles.