Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Psalm 46v2-3
It is hard being a follower of Jesus. I didn't realize the weight of what I was getting myself into.
It has this burden we must carry, in order to be set free.
I realize this the most at college. The swirling and chaotic storm seems to carry away with it, the very belongings i hold dear.
Sometimes it is the people who I hold closest. The enemy is a typhoon. He is fully consumed by thunder, and destructive to all in his path. We just don't see it. Oh, but if only we could, then we would run to true refuge.
With time and experience, I have found it is when things are going calm, do I fail to realize the storm is fast approaching.
I never understood the phrase calm just before the storm, until I was in Haiti, and experienced an impromptu rain and thunder storm. Just before, we as a youth group were playing with the kids of the local church in the town of Jacmel. Jacmel was a smaller town located atop a vast hill covered with leafy green plants and exotic trees.
We were just getting ready to pack up, when we heard the tumultuous sound. '
I had never heard a sound that shook the earth so. One minute we were peaceful. The next, we observed the children running to get under the covers. As a group we followed. Under the shelter of the church's porch, we watched as the sky roared, and the ground shook. The amazement occurred when the skies lit up with bright flashes followed by the chorus of the thunder. The rain came next. The wind followed after. We stood in awe, as the land (paralyzed by peace), was then jolted by the storm overhead.
Isn't this our story sometimes?
So often, we find ourselves lost in beauty, that we don't realize there is a storm fast approaching. We do not prepare. We do not find refuge. We get so lost in the beauty of things which will only lead in destruction.
Today as a college student, I realized the full weight of what it means to not be shaken. The world today demands so much of us.
It demands so much of me, there is hardly any of me left over for the Lord.
I desperately plea to everyone. To not get so consumed by beauty that we forget the reality around us. When we do, we forget the storm. We forget about ultimate destruction. The enemy comes in quickly and does critical damage, we hardly have to time to get back to our feet before the aftershock hits us.
Brothers and Sisters, do not forget your refuge is there. Do not forget about the body. We need you. We care about you. In fact, we need you to stay afloat.
Grace and Peace,
DCR