I have just survived what I can only say has been the most difficult week I have ever endured. To be perfectly honest, I hope it will always be the most difficult week I ever endure because I never want to experience another one like it for as long as I live. I truly feel as if I have walked through a fire and am still trying to breathe normally again. I guess you could say I am feeling more than a little shell shocked. My heart still skips a beat when my phone rings; my nerves just haven’t calmed down much yet.
On the way home from the hospital a few days ago, my daughter and I got caught in a pretty rough storm and were more than a little nervous. As I drove with a death grip on the steering wheel trying to see through the torrential rain, my daughter asked about storms being in different places. I explained by saying, “Storms move, honey. They don’t come to stay; they move on.” In that moment, I literally felt as if I were speaking to my own heart, dear friend.
I don’t know what kind of week you have had, but maybe, like me, you need to hear those words again. Storms move, honey. They don’t come to stay; they move on. This storm, no matter how rough it may be, is going to move on eventually. I cannot tell you how much I needed to be reminded of this truth, my friend. Sometimes it seems as if you cannot find your way out of the storm; it seems as if the storm is never going to end. But it will; it will pass on, beloved.
When things get tough and it seems as if the storm will never end, it is so important to remind ourselves of Truth. When we are going through difficulty, our emotions can be so overwhelming that we must fight to remember truth. But we must remind ourselves that God is with us and that He will see us through. (This is when it pays to have precious, Godly friends who can remind you of this!) I told someone this past week that I felt like I was barely hanging by a thread.
I assured them that it was okay though because the thread I was hanging on to was the hem of my beloved Savior’s garment. I knew as long as I held on to Him, I was going to make it through. In fact, I assure you, the only reason I made it through this past week was because He held me when I felt as if all my strength was failing. Beloved, in case you didn’t know it, the God we serve is faithful! I saw Him move this week and I felt the prayers of His people as they prayed.
Has my stress disappeared? No. Are there still concerns weighing heavily on my heart and mind? Yes. Am I a little more jumpy than usual? Yes. Do I want to curl up somewhere with a blanket, a cup of coffee, a really good book, and pretend the world doesn’t exist right now? Yes! My friend, life is hard, but God is still good, and He can be trusted to calm my worried heart and soothe my fears. So far, He has helped me through every difficulty I have ever faced. He will continue to be faithful.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10. Friend, our God is faithful to His Word, and He is the only reason I have made it this far in my life. If you are in the midst of a storm today, if you are hanging by a thread; keep hanging on! He will see you through. Remember, the storm didn’t come to stay; it is only passing through. It may be rough, but it will pass!
Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorite verses and I have clung to it through many a difficulty, my friend. I cannot begin to tell you how many days I have made it through, only because He has given me the strength I needed. Whatever challenge you may be facing today, beloved, look to Him for the help you need. And, dear heart, if you don’t have you some praying friends, I urge you to get some. They are one of life’s greatest treasures when we are going through the storms of life!
There is no greater friend than a friend who prays for you and I have never been more thankful for my praying friends than I was this past week. As a matter of fact, if you are one of those precious people who prayed for us this past week… Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! I have asked God to bless you tremendously for your love, prayers, and support! Your kindness has meant the world to me! May God bless you as only He can, precious friends!
Katrina Douglas
2/19/2022
