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.