Happy humpday, friends! Today I have a special treat for you! One of my favorite blogging friends has kindly agreed to be a guest here at The Peculiar Treasure. So please welcome Julie Moore and let her sweet spirit and awesome take on life fill your hearts today!
My family and I sat in the car facing the vast Pacific Ocean, taking in the intense lightning storm playing out in front of our windshield. The brilliant display crackling out from the darkness was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Earlier in the day, Jon, the spark plugs, and I had driven to the coast for one of our beloved family drives. Having eaten dinner in the car while watching the sun set over the water, we had been about to head home when a threatening storm suddenly unleashed its fury. Rather than risk driving home in perilous conditions, we chose instead to wait out the rain and lightning before leaving.
And in doing so, we inadvertently became spectators to one of God’s breathtaking displays of His power. In an odd way, it was more comfortable to sit through the storm than it was to try to get away from it.
Had we not simply waited out the storm, not only would we have put ourselves at needless risk, but we also would have missed the amazing beauty of the lightning bolts striking through the darkness down to the water. We would have missed this unexpected blessing.
Look for God's Hand
All too often, I want to rush through the storms in life. My only goal is to get through them as quickly as possible so that I can get back to a comfortable place again.
But after witnessing the storm that night, I began to wonder - by simply trying to survive my life’s hardships, am I missing opportunities to see God’s hand at work?
What points of beauty, areas of spiritual growth, and lessons from the Lord am I losing by not embracing and fully living through my trials when they come?
When my son Turbo was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, it was one of the hardest things I’ve gone through to date. And yet, it was also one of the times when I most clearly saw the Lord at work. While I’d never choose to go through another experience like that, I also don’t want to miss out on the beauty of those kinds of hardships, either.
Life is full of waiting, hardship, and struggle. But for the Christian, there can also be comfort, both despite and because of those trials.
Let’s embrace the storm together. We never know when we’ll get to witness another brilliant display of God’s glory!
Meet Julie!
Julie Moore is wife to Jon and homeschooling mommy to four spark plugs, one of whom has Type 1 Diabetes. She blogs at The Hallway Initiative, where she encourages Christian ladies to praise the Lord during times of waiting and hardship. Her mini email series, "Savoring the Savior (Even if You Don't Feel Like Celebrating)" begins November 15th. Be sure to check that out, along with her Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts.
I LOVE this post! And it is such an encouragement to some current things I'm facing right now. One of my pastors posted last night about "going through something" and the perspective that holds rather than just thinking about "getting through something", and this perspective is encouragement that goes hand in hand for that. Thank you for posting!
ReplyDeleteShaylynn, I love what you shared! "Going" instead of "getting" through a hard time is a great perspective. I'm going to try to remember that!
DeleteHi Julie! :) This is really beautiful! God certainly moves in the midst of the storm!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, Abbey! Yes, He certainly does!
DeleteHi Julie! Nice to get to know you a little! It's so important to stick to faith during those stormy times. So much perspective and growth always come from them in my experience.
ReplyDeleteSending you lots of love and prayers <3
Rachel | The Confused Millennial
Thank you so much for your prayers, Rachel. The prayers from the Body of Believers is truly what's gotten me through so many difficulties in life. And yes, we must cling to our faith even more as we journey through rough times!
DeleteThis was such an amazingly inspiring post! I definitely needed this today!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful and full of so much truth. God uses storms to remind us of so many important things and to draw us into Himself. Thank you for this reminder!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love this Julie. I'm a big fan of escaping the storm as much as I can. I'd run away, hide, and do my best to avoid pain. But God knows best and has some much-needed lessons waiting for me in the heart of the storm. I'm now learning to slowly embrace them.
ReplyDelete