Facing thestorm

By Ken Johnson, M.A., LPC Founder & CEO, East West Psychotherapy Associates Marietta, GA

Have you ever found yourself on the receiving end of circumstances that are beyond your control? What is usually your first reaction when you see bad circumstances coming your way? If you’re like most people, you try to get away from the problem as quickly as possible. You try to save yourself from the pain coming your way. Running from problems is not always the best way to handle difficult circumstances.

I was recently reminded that when buffalo herds in Yellowstone National Park are faced with an oncoming storm they do not run away from the storm. Our natural inclination is to try to outrun a storm; get as far in front of the storm so it does not affect us. The buffaloes know that won’t work. They can never outrun a storm. The storm will overcome them and then they will be wet, cold, and stuck in the middle of the storm. Buffaloes don’t run away from the storm. Instead, the whole herd turns and faces the storm. They go into the storm to meet it.

Then they continue to walk through the storm and out the other side. They are less wet, less cold and they come out into the sunlight. The storm is behind them.

The storms of life will come and go. We cannot always avoid them. You’ve probably heard it said, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” I do not believe this statement. If God never gives us more than we can handle, then why do we need God? We can take care of ourselves.

No, I believe God always gives us more than we can handle because it forces us to trust God. We must rely on Him. We then see the power of God and the immense love He has for each of us. He desires to have a relationship with us. God doesn’t watch our struggle from afar to see how we’ll do. God is in the midst of the storm, walking through the storm with us. There are times when God will even carry us. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 46:4, “I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

God gives us hope in His promises that He will get us through the storms that come our way. We can trust God. He keeps His word. I remember nine years ago when walking across the floor in my house and suddenly falling to the floor paralyzed due to a medical emergency. I never walked again. My paralysis and permanent use of a wheelchair has been one of my greatest personal storms.

I literally couldn’t run from this storm. I turned headlong into the storm and used my faith in God and the promises of His words in the Bible to harness the turbulence of the storm with God beside me to raise me up above the storm and through the storm.

Did you know that eagles are the only bird that fly directly into a storm? Other birds seek shelter and must wait it out; their feathers can’t take the rain and they have trouble flying. The storm has essentially grounded them. But not the eagle. The eagle flies into the storm and uses the strong, turbulent winds to propel itself higher through the storm to break through and fly above the clouds, avoiding the storm.

Did you know that eagles are the only bird that fly directly into a storm?

Isaiah 40:31 says,

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

It’s comforting to know that God is with us through the storms. But we need to be actively working with God to overcome the storms we face. Here are five ways you can work with God to overcome the storms in your life.

• Call on the name of the Lord for strength. Recognize you don’t have to go through your circumstances alone.

• God wants to be with you through the storm.

• Read God’s promises in the Bible. This is how God Reminds us to trust Him.

• Surround yourself with those who will go with you and support you through the storm. When you are surrounded by those who care, God blesses you and those around you are blessed.

• Never give up. Keep pushing forward. Always trust that you are not alone. God will give you supernatural strength to keep going, even when the rest of the world tells you to give up.

• Have patience with the time it takes to get through the storm. Take time to slow down and think about your best way of getting through a storm. Use the resources God gives you to plan and make wise decisions on getting through difficult circumstances.

• Everyone goes through storms from time to time. But you don’t have to feel the weight is all on your shoulders. God is beside you, going through the storm with you. I leave you with Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.”