Wednesday, August 24, 2011

eye of the hurricane

Life has been a bit overwhelming for us lately.  That could even be a bit of an understatement.

It has been a daunting task to get all the details together to move to a third world country, fundraise a large sum of money, raise our family, try to sell our house, as well as Stephen working many hours a week on a big project that is currently paying our bills "in between" jobs.

Then there's the drama in between it all.  Doing life with a bunch of imperfect humans wouldn't be complete without it.  I'll admit it, we have felt very defeated over the past few weeks.  Physically, emotionally, and spiritually defeated.  We're getting ready to head out on an exciting adventure in Haiti the Lord is sending us on.  We're confident in the calling and many details are falling into place, but we've been caught in the chaos of life around us.  Wednesday a bunch of issues and disappointments all got the best of me and let's face it......I was perfectly content in the land of a personal pity party.

Then this song I've never heard before came on the radio as I got in my car that evening  (here's the first couple verses):

Feels like the hurricane has come,
Feels like this ship is sinking,
These skies seem they are empty of your mercy tonight,
Sometimes the mystery of grace runs deeper then I am thinking,
In the dark I find your light,

(Chorus)
When I am over my head yeah,
I am waiting for a miracle,
I am fighting the wind and the waves,
Then the weight of this storm drives me straight to your arms,
You hold me I know that I am safe in the eye of the hurricane,
In the eye of the hurricane.

Sometimes I am crying for relief,
God let this night be over,
One word if you would speak could silence the storm,
Instead your mercy has a way of turning heart ache to faith,
So that hope will be reborn,


The phrase just made me instantly melt in my Father's arms: "Then the weight of this storm drives me straight to your arms."

I knew that's exactly where I needed to be.  Pity parties never really get me anywhere!  God reminded me that we're ALL imperfect and I can't put my complete faith in any person other than Him.  Just as nobody could ever put their faith in me as I will surely let them down.  So I rested in the Lords arms that night.  When I got home, Joshua 1:9 popped out at me from something I was going through in our fundraising tasks: "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

It's amazing how refreshing that is.  How can I lose sight of that so easily?  I'm so thankful I have a God whose arms I have to run to "wherever I go".

What's your hurricane?  We all have them going on.  My "hurricane" probably sounds silly to the storms facing others right now.  I encourage you to run to your savior's arms today and rest in the "eye of the hurricane."  It's a great place to be!