I’m writing this on a rainy day from my back porch. Water is streaming off the gutters while little pools are forming in the garden soil around flower buds. This day seems like a reprieve from the spring spark, those early weeks of the new season where we all become as busy as bees sprung from their hives to flit around outside to do yard work, clean up our homes, and find restaurants to eat at with picnic tables.
The spring weather in the Carolinas flip flops. We experience almost summer-like weather. Then, bam! In will come a cool breeze, drop in the temperature, and a ton of rain. After living in the Carolinas most of my life, I’m prepared for this seasonal swing. The winter coats don’t go up in the attic until May. Rain boots stay by the front door for our entire family so the kids aren’t tempted to ruin their shoes in a mud puddle. A ball cap stays ready on my dresser when the humidity suddenly threatens to grow my hair into a frizz ball. Even if you don’t live in a climate that experiences weekly weather surprises in the spring, we have all experienced shocking change. Besides death (and taxes, ha!), change is one of the only things that are inevitable in life. It’s not these continual shifts in seasons that tend to rock us. What’s hard is when we aren’t prepared for them. When a huge life problem, financial hardship, or a soul wrenching senario slams into our lives like an unexpected April shower, it’s miserable. We are caught in a spring rain without a coat. About six months ago and seemingly out of nowhere, anxiety attacks and insomnia began to wreak havoc on my life. I was shocked and scared. I didn’t know what to do or how to find reprieve from the storm. Through that experience, here are a few ways I learned that we can always spiritually stay prepared for whatever life may throw at us…
1. Like a raincoat, if we cover ourselves in prayer we’re no longer exposed to the worst part of our situation.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” If you’re like me, when clouds start to roll in, you get a little anxious. We can start asking questions like— What does the storm hold? What if it’s the worst season ever? What if this takes me out? While we can’t control our future, we can place it all into the hands of a God who shelters us. Prayer is our spiritual SOS signal that asks God to blanket us with what we need to weather our worry. 2. Like placing rain boots by the door, if we stay ready for action we’ll be one step ahead of the storm. Shoes in the Bible often represent a readiness for action. A great example of this when Paul references the armor of God in Ephesians 6. In verse 15, Paul tells us to “put on the shoes that will keep you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” When a something suddenly shifts in life but we’re already prepared to speak the peace of Christ over that situation, we push back against the calamity the storm is trying to cause and allow God to give purpose our season. Yes, we may be struggling right now. What we’re going through might be insanely hard. However, Christ is the calm in the confusion, the purpose-giver to our pain. We can speak to the clouds, rain, and wind and remind them that only Christ get’s the final word over our lives. When we stay ready to proclaim peace, we don’t have to scrounge up strength in the middle of a downpour. We can already prophesy that the sun will rise, the rain will feed flowers, and the wind will usher in God’s Will for our lives. We do not know what spring may bring. The garden I’m sitting in may be full of blooms within the next few months. Yet, it also may not. Our lives may blossom with blessings or showers may wash away the seeds we have sown. Anything could happen. However, no matter what, we can decide to talk to God about it and ask for His covering and protection through prayer. We can stay ready to proclaim peace in whatever place we may find ourselves. Change is inevitable but so too is God’s Word, immense love, and provision in all seasons.
Think About It:
1. What situations do you need to cover in prayer? Take time to ask God for what you specifically need in this season. 2. What does it look like for you to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready when storms in life hit? Our Prayer: Lord, When seasons suddenly shift, it surprises us but never you. You go before, behind and beside us through all things so we can rest assured today that, whatever we’re facing, you’re in it too. Grant us what we need to weather life’s storms. Through every downpour and gale, cover us as we cling to you. Help us to stay ready to speak to the wind and rain and declare your peace, a peace that surpasses all circumstances. In Jesus name, Amen
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
