Saturday, May 10, 2008

Standing in the Storms

Inside my body grows an insidious, incurable disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Most people might look at God and blame him for this lifestyle that I have to live. As a Christian, I view it differently. I believe that God has allowed me to walk this path in order to glorify him and grow in my relationship with him. I am very blessed to be healthy and normal 90% of the time; but what about the other 10%? Some days are very gray and difficult to get through. There have been days where I haven’t had the strength to even get out of bed. Trusting God doesn’t always come easily on those days, but I have learned to dig deep and trust in him with every ounce of my being.


We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”


How do I give thanks in those moments when I am weak and ill? How do I give thanks when I end up in the hospital again and I feel defeated by this malady, overcome with coughing, a fever, loneliness, weariness, and that exhausting feeling that this could be the beginning of the end? How do I trust God in these circumstances and apply his commands to my life?


I start by trusting that God works for the good of those who love him . . . in every situation (Romans 8:28), and by believing that he who began a good work in me, will complete it (Philippians 1:6). I remember that when I am weak, God’s strength shines through and his grace will be sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9).


I trust God and give thanks by knowing that he is here with me. Even in the wind, God is here. A few months ago, while vacationing in Hawaii, I was struck with a revelation. I was frustrated one day with how windy it was. Everywhere I went, it was windy. All I wanted to do was sit in the sun and enjoy the Hawaiian scenery and get a tan, but it was so windy that this desire became difficult and I was frustrated. While staring at the ocean and venting my frustrations to God, I felt him tell me that he was still there, even in the wind. He reminded me that even the wind had a purpose. God whispered in my ear that wind had a way of moving things and uncovering beauty beneath the surface that would have otherwise been undiscovered.


When I have windy days that seem to be filled with endless suffering and darkness, I can remember to be thankful because I know that when the wind is gone, a new beauty will be exposed. I can be thankful for the storms in my life because God is carrying me through them. I will not be easily moved; I will continue to trust in God knowing that he has called me to stand firm and let nothing move me (1 Corinthians 15:58). I can face the storms of life with confidence, knowing that I serve a God that I can trust, and I will stand firm!


(c) 2008 Mandy Anderson

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