Courage in the Storms

As I transition from Summer Mission blog updates back to regular blog posts, it honestly feels weird.  No longer am I writing about my day to day schedule and experiences.  Instead, I am back to sharing devotionals God has placed on my heart.  This particular one is something God has been working on in my daily life recently.

I have started back to school, and while the campus is familiar after last year, there are new things, new faces, new classes, and new experiences.  The entire thought of it all can become overwhelming, and for a few days I sat in a load of stress brought with it.  However, The Father is good and showed me in many different ways that He is my hope, my help, and my comfort.  He will protect me in times of trouble, and He will deliver me through the toughest of circumstances.

Psalm 91:1-6 makes it clear that God will be our shelter.  What better feeling than to know the Creator of the Universe has your back?  And not only that, but He also put you in your particular situations for a reason.  He wired you for the circumstances you face and the people you meet.  So, if He made you for a reason, He will not forget you or forsake you.  He’s got you!  The King of Kings is holding YOU in His hands!  How cool is that?

A song I have been listening to quite a lot over the past few weeks is You Make Me Brave.  Here are some of the lyrics:

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made

                The fact that the song says over and over how God makes us brave is significant in itself, but there’s even more to it.  God calls us out into the waves, which is an extremely uncomfortable and scary place when looked at with the physical aspects in mind.  But, when you look at it spiritually, it is an opportunity to grow and possibly share your faith with someone.  Going into the waves could just be internal spiritual warfare, or it may be going on a mission trip.  It could be going to school or work every day.  Whatever your current waves are, I encourage you to go all in.  Let God immerse you in experiences that will change you for the better.  Let Him use you!  It takes great courage to allow God to use us.

                The lyrics also say “No fear can hinder now the love that made a way” and “No fear can hinder now the promises you made.”  There is absolutely no fear that Satan throws at us that can hinder the amazing things The Father has planned.  Of course, we have to have hope in Him and live out the faith it takes.  But when our eyes are on Christ, His promises will be made known to us.  Things that from an earthly view seem overwhelming become simple little tasks when our hearts and minds are on Christ.  God’s love for us will never end, and He will always keep His promises.

                So, as we all sit in the middle of these storms of life that try to drain our hope, let us all keep in mind that the God of the Heavens is our protection, our shield, and our shelter.  He can calm these storms, but until He does, let Him work in you.  Let Him break you down and build you up so that you can be equipped for whatever comes next.  He may be preparing you for a new adventure, a new friend, or a new plan for life.  No matter what God has in store for you, have the courage to keep your eyes on Him.