It was a weekend we had planned and anticipated for weeks. We made the several hour drive out of
populated towns, into the unaltered mountains with the river bending through
and as we did, everything seemed to slow down. The change in physical pace was
a much needed reminder to slow down our spiritual pace.
The weather was beautiful the day we arrived and although rain
was in the forecast, we continued forward and hoped for the best. Each of us set up our tents, unpacked our
belongings and settled in for the weekend.
We greeted old friends and were introduced to new ones. As a new day
came, so did the rain. Not just a light
shower but a downpour, then a break followed by yet another downpour. Rain never does stop kids so we all followed
suit and although the ground was wet, we all stayed. Some of us danced, some played, others
fished, and took walks. The rain allowed
us time to talk and catch up, to learn new things and grow. That evening, in perfect time, the sky cleared
and we all sat under a shower of fireworks and soon after sent off lanterns. Lanterns that slowly floated through the
valley along the clear path of the river lighting the dark.
The last day came with weather much the same. We had just finished packing up our
belongings when the farthest place in the valley became black. Those of us who were packed and ready to go
could have set off for home, but we stayed.
As the storm crept closer we pitched together to help our friends get
their belongings away. We all got
soaked, but we wouldn’t leave and didn’t leave, until we could all leave.
As we drove home that day and reflected on our weekend, our
hearts were full. There was something
more to that weekend that couldn’t be explained, a nudging on our hearts that
success wasn’t being defined by the crowd or the weather. Instead it was being defined as something far
greater, far more meaningful, far more church-like and Kingdom sought.
We don’t always wake up to bright, clear days. It most often happens to be the times in our
lives that we expect the best of days, when clouds roll through and the sky
opens up and pours down. All our
well-though-out plans don’t stand against the eternal plans of the Unchangeable,
Unshakeable, and Sovereign God. Life
happens, hurt happens, heartache, and loss happen. Yet something within us needs to resolve that
come what may – it will be well with our soul.
We can easily settle down after surviving our own storm and find comfort on the other side. We can see the storm coming and tuck tail and run the other way. But there are times when others need us to walk alongside of them and help them find shelter in the storm. The same shelter we once found, a refuge for the weak, and comfort for the broken. Times when we need to learn to dance in the rain and open our arms wide to receive what we never expected, but needed the most. Moments when the black storm is rolling in, when others may fear and panic, but need us to stand firm and face the storm knowing confidently that we know personally the One above the storm.
There will be times when those we are in relationship with need us to be strong and believe for them until they can find strength to believe for themselves. Because once we’ve been through the storm, we can’t walk away and let others get lost within it. They need His light to help break through their darkness and lead them straight out.
In this life, storms will come, rain will pour and the ground
beneath us will be soaked. But there is
hope in troubled times, when the bottom drops out and the carefully crafted
walls cave in. There is One who can
redeem, reclaim and rebuild the storm-tossed land of our hearts.
…and it is a beautiful thing!
“O
afflicted one, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones
of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.”
Isaiah 54:11
