Mark Michaels, program director at KLRC, and I talked casually before taping.
“I’ve come to the point where I’m leery of easy,” he said, as he shared his and his wife’s four-year journey to adopt a child internationally.
Two years in, the doors closed to adopting a Rwandan child they had come to love. They experienced the loss of a child, and the hope of a dream. A few months later they felt compelled to continue their adoption journey.
Maybe it would be easier this time? It should be, right?
It wasn’t.
Her name is Ruth.
A misspelled name on a document delayed the adoption by a year. Last week they finally received news that the documents were resolved, and there’s a good chance that they’ll bring home their daughter in a few months.
Mark says of his journey, “We just couldn’t give up. I can’t count easy as God’s will, for sometimes the harder places are the places where we discover how to trust God the most.”
Storms.
We’ve all experienced those setbacks and storms.
It’s not unusual to want a storm-free life. That’s just natural.
In Luke 8:22-25, Jesus falls asleep in a small boat in a tempest sea, while terror-stricken disciples toss back and forth in the storm. Finally the disciples shake Jesus awake, calling out, “Don’t you care?”
A question someone like Mark might ask. A question you might have asked.
A question that I’ve held in my own heart in the midst of the storm.
My pastor said this Sunday, “If you want a storm-free life, don’t follow Jesus. In fact, don’t do anything.”
There it was again.
That same message.
We aren’t promised easy. Storms come.
My pastor reminded us that Jesus is the author, but also the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Our faith is more precious to Him than gold (1 Peter 1:7).
We come to know Him through worship. Through the Bible. Through teaching.
But sometimes the greatest revelations come to us in our greatest storms.
“Jesus never squanders a storm,” my pastor reminded us.
What is your storm right now? What is taking place in your faith in the midst of the storm?
I love the line that a storm is never squandered! It’s so easy to think of a storm as something we must simply endure and persevere through. Really, it’s just as important as all the bliss filled moments. They all contribute equally to who we are and who we’re becoming through God. Thank you Suzie!
We must welcome the storms and allow them to be the growing experience God intends them to be. Oh, but what a tough truth to follow.
Yes, our greatest revelation of Jesus is sometimes in the storm. My little tempest in a teapot right now is my husband’s two week absence. I’m glad I love him so much that I miss him dreadfully. It’s a time to lean into Jesus.
I just got through a breast cancer storm, that was, yes, filled with miracles and blessings. Pain too, but Jesus was definitely in my boat. then came my marriage storm…it’s been brewing for 30 years, and we ignored it, thought it would go away, dissipate. If you have a good foundation, you can withstand most anything. This storm has shaken my foundation – our foundation. We are trying to rebuild, but it is such hard work. I’m tired. but through this, I know God is doing great things – I just need to keep my eyes on Jesus.
my storm right now is my 5 year old son. the school is his at want us to say he has autism. but i know in my heart that that is not true …. it is batile up and down between doctors and the school now one sees autism but the school are detemind . God gave me Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewal of your mind , that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect.
i know that throught this storm God will send out on wensday a negitive report …. my son is so hyperactive that now sight of autism is seen by so many …but one person whats ot have her way …. i know God will not alllow this storm to beforfirled or true …
Luhida,
I will be praying for you and your son. Do not give up and keep up the fight for your son. My son is now a Senior in high school and we have fought a long battle with schools and Dr’s over what is right for him. My son was diagnosed with ADD and an emotional disorder and it has been nothing but meeting after meeting. We have had to deal with administration at all levels and I have cried myself to sleep many nights wondering if we are doing the right things for our son. But after 8 years of the ups and downs and going with the decisions that my husband and I have felt are the correct ones for our son have been so rewarding. Our son is on schedule to graduate with his graduating class this summer. We can not be any more proud of him and if we would have followed the Dr and the teachers advise he would not be graduating but be receiving a certificate of completion instead. Follow your heart and what God places in your heart and you can not go wrong!!! Blessings to you and your son.
thank you for the reply ….this all i need this morning ….i now this message was from the hand of God ….. thank you this means the world to me and my son.
thanks for the prayers.
I think my storm is a tornado – category 4! my husband is the pastor of a small church & we need to make decisions about the future of the church. we (husband and I) have financial difficulties and we have car troubles – his car needs costly repairs that our mechanic advises against doing in an older car . .and we can’t afford a new car right now. my daughter is a newly wed (one year) and she wants to have a baby but is having problems getting pregnant. Her husband is the guardian of a 13 year old who has serious problems and they are getting worse – to the point that giving up guardianship is probably going to happen. we have a son in prison, which has opened the doors for me to minister to moms of prisoners. this past month i have been working with one mom whose son (not the one in prison) attempted suicide and with another mom whose 23 year old son may get the death penalty. the church I work for is undergoing some serious problems and may be looking at a spilt. I am feeling overwhelmed!
I pray for you Susan. I truly believe God will provide. He is ever faithful. He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Deliverer. I pray you will have peace in the midst of the storm. I pray God will bless your ministry with the women and provide guidance and wisdom in all your decisions. Joshua 1:9..
When I read of others storms mine seem so small. I am glad that nothing is unimportant to God. I pray for my husband who is a smoker. I know this is bad for his health. He is good about not smoking around me. I pray that I will be a loving wife and not a nagger, as that does not change anything.
Right now I also pray for my neighbor who is in the midst of a storm in her family. And I pray for my grandson who is struggling as the result of ongoing after divorce issues between his mom and dad.
I pray for my daughter as she tries to be a good parent and a good provider. I pray that I will get over this cold and my hubby will not get it. I give thanks for ALL the storms God has brought me through and the lessons I have learned about His faithfulness and provision. It gives me confidence when I pray and offer encouragement to others, for I have seen God work in my own life. I love this post and know that if I am not in a storm, one will surely come along. I hope I can remember that God does not squander storms, but has a purpose for them. My verse is Joshua 1:9 and Philippians 4:13. Blessings