This evening as I went on my usual nightly walk out on the Marsh.The rain had ended earlier and the dreary sky had turned pink and gold . Always a nice surprise after all the rain we have been having.As I stood by the water.I noticed little circles forming here and there,This is usually the minnows that come near the edge when the tide is low.But as I looked the circles were everywhere in the water.I realized that it was rain.But the interesting thing was I was about a foot from the waters edge and none of it was touching me.It was raining a foot away and I was dry.A few minutes later the skies opened up and I was soaked.
This made me think of the storms in life.We can at times be surrounded by them,but if we are under the shelter of the almighty one,at times we can sail through them seemingly untouched.When they are over we scratch our heads and think" how in the world did I get through that? Was I sleeping? At times after a particular storm in my life,i have wondered if perhaps i was in LA LA land during the whole thing.You replay it over in your mind and some how you have come through something that has the capability to level us,but we have come out untouched.We have made it through the rough times with nary a scratch.Hard to believe but it is possible.
There are other times that we feel like the cowboy in the old westerns ,the one who has been tied to the back of the horse and dragged through the desert for days.We have been slapped around so much we feel as though we have been thrown into the boxing ring and hey we never signed up for it.We grow weary,we are beaten up and just plain tired of it all.
I have a saying that I say at times when something is going on in my life that I did not ask for.I say" Hey Lord,why don't you go see so and so down the street,I think they need some work in that area,but me,no Im good,thank you very much.I don't need any work in that area.I'm sure He thinks Im hilarious.I know He is using this circumstance to grow and change me.To perfect me where I am in need of perfecting.But some days I want to shout at the top of my Lungs.Go Pick on someone else.
But then I think of the times that I have had complete peace,and have emerged from a trial completely unscathed and I am so thankful.I am always amazed at what He can do.And I am always amazed at the work that He has done in me during certain hard times in my life.Will I still whine when things don't go my way? I will try not to,but I can guarantee I will. Will I be in awe when I am carried through a storm and emerge unharmed,covered in total peace? Yes.
I urge you to read Psalm 91.This says it all.How can we be fearful after reading this? We need to read it and believe it and we need to receive it.
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the L
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the L
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The L
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Dee
