Looking From A Different Angle

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV

Good Morning Girlfriends:

Moving to my husbands home where he grew up as a child, was an exciting time in my life. He took me for a drive to a different place every day, to show me so many beautiful places that he had already been, but so we could explore theses places together. One evening he had suggested that we should get up extra early the next morning before the sun came up and take a thermos of coffee with us so we could watch the sun come up over the ocean. (There were no coffee shops where we lived)

With the thermos of hot coffee in hand and our mugs, we drove down the road to where there was a side road the led to a high point to overlook the ocean. As we sat there in his truck, sipping our coffee, he began telling me when he used to lobster fish out on this ocean and this one time a huge storm had came up, and he wasn't sure if the boat and the crew were going to make it. Living where we did, I could watch the lobster boats come into the Bay every morning from their nightly catch. Making many trips down to the harbor, I was able to see just how large these boats really were. Some of them had large look out decks, with ropes attached to different places on the boat. Some of these boats had a trap door under the floor where they kept the lobster, or whatever fish they had caught.

As the story continued, my husband was with the crew that night when they were out on a trip for a catch, when out of no where a wild storm had come up, as the waves grew violently high as the wind blew. The waves were said to be coming so that they were reaching up and over the boat, so they were not able to see where they were going. He told me the crew had to think fast as they all worked together, grabbing the ropes and tightening them down, the motor to the boat was cut back as the water was coming into the boat, as they worked hard and furious just to stay alive with no shore in sight, they all thought this could be the end.

It was at that moment when my husband said that he called upon God to show up in a way that only He could, to save them and rescue them from this storm so they could see another day. He shared with me that it seemed like hours that they fought the high winds and waves, but all of a sudden, it was like the wind subsided and the waves slowly diminished as the giant boat began to slowly come into a gentle rocking motion. He told me the men just looked at each other as they let go of the ropes and began to breathe again.

Girlfriends, I could not imagine going through something like that, although something similar to that did happen to me, on a much smaller scale when I was on a pontoon boat. Can you think back in time when a storm in your life came up out of no where, when the enemy used people to hurl accusations at you, lies, tempers rose against you, it just seemed like all hell was coming at you. This is also a major storm we would call it, that the enemy will create to try to take one off target. It is in those moments that we must remember what the word of God says that "Immanuel" God with us, He is really with us. (Matt.1:23)

The Bible does tell us that in life there will be difficult times, trials that we will encounter, but it also tells us that God is our refuge and strength, He's a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) That is a promise that God gave us that we can stand on. When we are in a storm in life, and it feels like the waves are growing so big that they are up to our necks, it is at that moment that we are to re-direct our vision. As we hold our head back, we are to look up and call upon the Lord to rescue us, call upon Him to help calm the storm or speak peace into the storm until it subsides. God wants us to look to Him, He is where our strength, our help comes from.

When the disciples were in the boat and a storm came up out of no where, they forgot who was on the boat with them, Jesus was in the bottom of the boat asleep. When they woke Jesus up letting Him know there was a storm, what do you suppose Jesus said at that moment...He spoke to the storm as He said, "Peace Be Still." If you are in a storm right now, the waves are raging on all sides of you, maybe you need to speak the very words Jesus did, "Peace Be Still," and watch the waves settle down as the wind and storm shifts, as your life begins to be brought back to a gentle rock and you can thank God alone for bringing you through it, Amen?

Just remember all the previous times that God has brought you through something, He did it once, twice, three times and He will do it again and again and again. God loves us girlfriends, and as we go through and come through each storm in life, it grows us to be a stronger person as we learn to put our faith, hope and trust in Jesus knowing that He is always with us and He will never forsake us meaning He will never turn His back on us. (Deut. 31:6, Hebrews 13:5)

Let's Pray,

Father God, I just want to lift up my praises to You and my testimony of how many times You have brought me through many storms in my life. Lord, You were always there for me just like You are there for the dear one who is in a raging storm right now. I speak peace be still over that situation where there is someone who is facing custody battle. I say that the devil is a liar and he will not have his way but Jesus is the one who is turning things around in your favor, in the mighty name of Jesus. To the one who has just recently lost a loved one, I declare that a peace that surpasses all understanding would come upon you in the mighty name of Jesus., that you will feel His peace come over you and a strength like no other will come upon you to take you through the days ahead. Lord, I ask that You would send friends and family to see that everything gets done in Jesus mighty name, Amen.

Be blessed dear ones and pass the blessings on.