Poor pitiful me!
I’m sorry to say that this how I’ve felt lately. If anyone could throw a pity party these past few years, let me tell you, it’s been me. My family has been walking a hard road for some time now, and somewhere along the way I forgot one of the most valuable lessons that God ever taught me:
I forgot to look up.
See, all around us was a sea of trouble. Miles and miles of waves and stormy seas, the winds whipping against our home and thunderous claps shaking our walls. A storm that raged on and on. So for years I’ve been focusing on this storm, and I admit that have forgotten to look up.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.– Psalm 121: 1 & 2
I forgot God has been there with us. I forgot that God is always been in control. I forgot to remember all of His faithfulness in the past. That He has never let us down, and that He will not let us fall:
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.– Psalm 121: 3 & 4
I forgot that I really could lay down without worry and sleep, because even when I sleep, He does not. That He offers a precious rest in the midst of the most wall-shaking, foundation-quaking storm.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.– Psalm 121:5 & 6
We parents are in the midst a storm, but listen, in the midst of a storm we have an opportunity to witness the miraculous saving power of God.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.– Psalm 121:7 & 8
Many years ago, stormy winds blew wild across an angry Sea of Galilee. In the storm a boat pitched and rolled, and the men on it were filled with sleepless fear. Then, in the darkest hours of the night when all seemed lost, the men saw a solitary figure walking in the gloom of the night, the harshest of waves rolling under his feet:
Jesus.
He walked on water to offer His peace, and He reached out a hand to show Peter how to step on the stormy waters with Him.
Do you know that like Peter, we can choose to walk on the stormy waters of our life … if we keep our eyes firmly on Jesus.
So forget the waves rocking your life right now. Forget the storm that threatens to take you down. Just look up to Jesus now and experience His power and might in your life today.
As for me? I’m looking up.
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Yes! I was on a praise cruise on the Sea of Galilee last year, and it was a beautiful, calm, spring day. Suddenly, a wind whipped up out of nowhere. Our group stood in the middle of the boat, the wind whipping in our faces, and we all imagined seeing Jesus walking across the waves toward us. It was awesome! The amazing thing is that our special kids give us the opportunity to look out across stormy seas on a regular basis. And when we look for Him, He’s always there, walking toward us.
That would have been the trip of a lifetime!
I so appreciate you sharing those Scripture verses, Kelly. Great ones to commit to memory as we look up to Jesus. The Lord’s promises are bigger than any storm that battles us. Thank you!
Thanks, Rose-Marie. Yes, they are good scriptures to memorize, aren’t they?
Amen! Thanks, Kelly!
Thank you so much for this timely post!!! It is EXACTLY how I feel at the moment. That our family has been tossed around the stormy seas for so many YEARS now it isn’t even funny. Things seem as though they are getting better, and then some other calamity befalls us. Thank you – for reminding me that God takes care of everything when we look to Him for His assistance and guidance!
I know how you feel, Kim! We need to remind each other, right?
Great post Kelly, thanks for the inspiration to “keep walking” as we try to survive our stormy waters with autism + puberty in our home 🙂
Thank you for the timely reminder. Wow.
AMEN Kelly!!