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The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 4:19:58 PM
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KuKu
Posts: 897
Joined: 5/20/2005
From: Somewhere out there
Status: offline
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This thread comes from thoughts in several threads in the last few days/weeks.
Our lives come in seasons. Sometimes it seems like one good thing after another. Lots of friends, close family, going to school, a good job, a really great church, an awesome SO, etc. Life is really sunny.
Then something happens, be it graduation, a fight with the SO, death, health crises, divorce, ________, and suddenly the clouds appear, and life isn't quite so pleasant anymore. For some of us, when it rains, it REALLY pours. We are in a season of cold winds, dark skies, and storms on the horizon.
And many times, it seems to get colder and colder. The divorce leads to family fights, in which friends and the church also takes sides, which leads to holidays alone and alienation from those we love. The now ex- boy/girlfriend/fiancee reminds us that we are imperfect and can be rejected. The graduation sends us alone into a world where jobs don't come easily, family isn't as willing to support an adult child, and we are struggling to make it from day to day. Our health is failing and between medical visits, medical costs, and time spent trying to figure things out, we don't have time to connect with people like we did. We are stranded alone in the cold, and fighting to survive.
The something happens. Family members forgive, an old college roommate calls, we figure out a medical solution to manage our situation, we get the call back for a second interview, and we are hired, we meet a new 'friend' at church. It may not be the job we wanted, but it's a job, it may not be the guy/gal we were pining for, but it's someone we can get to know. There it is, the slightest thaw in the chill we have been feeling. A ray of sun peeks out from the stormclouds.
It's not a bright sun, but the promise of one. It's not a lack of rainclouds, but a hope that they will be gone. It's not a hot summers day, but a warm spring one, still holding on to the slight chill of days past.
We know now that the sun will rise again, and summer will return, but we now have the wisdom to expect the rainclouds, the knowledge that we will get through them, and the peace that even as seasons change, they serve a purpose. We become stronger, we become mature, we become SURE that there is hope, peace, and God's hand with us in all we face.
We don't like the storms, but what, if we allow it, do we learn about ourselves, our God, and our lives? Can we be thankful even for the thunderclouds and the dark, stormy nights?
(I am directing this mostly to singles as we tend to have less 'stable' networks of people (spouses hopefully weather these things together) to lean on in times like these)
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 4:27:23 PM
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mutinywxgirl
Posts: 12868
Joined: 4/29/2005
From: west coast of FL
Status: offline
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Oh, I have a post from several years ago that I wrote - on this very topic (when I was going through things with *him*). I will dig it up and put it in here (with updates). It was inspired - even pastor friends of mine have used it in their sermons.......
_____________________________
When blood and water hit the ground.
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down.
We were free and made alive.
The day true love died. The day true love died.
Lisa is happy THE ROWDIES ARE BACK!
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 4:29:25 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
Posts: 6356
Joined: 5/2/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: KuKu
This thread comes from thoughts in several threads in the last few days/weeks.
Our lives come in seasons. Sometimes it seems like one good thing after another. Lots of friends, close family, going to school, a good job, a really great church, an awesome SO, etc. Life is really sunny.
Then something happens, be it graduation, a fight with the SO, death, health crises, divorce, ________, and suddenly the clouds appear, and life isn't quite so pleasant anymore. For some of us, when it rains, it REALLY pours. We are in a season of cold winds, dark skies, and storms on the horizon.
And many times, it seems to get colder and colder. The divorce leads to family fights, in which friends and the church also takes sides, which leads to holidays alone and alienation from those we love. The now ex- boy/girlfriend/fiancee reminds us that we are imperfect and can be rejected. The graduation sends us alone into a world where jobs don't come easily, family isn't as willing to support an adult child, and we are struggling to make it from day to day. Our health is failing and between medical visits, medical costs, and time spent trying to figure things out, we don't have time to connect with people like we did. We are stranded alone in the cold, and fighting to survive.
The something happens. Family members forgive, an old college roommate calls, we figure out a medical solution to manage our situation, we get the call back for a second interview, and we are hired, we meet a new 'friend' at church. It may not be the job we wanted, but it's a job, it may not be the guy/gal we were pining for, but it's someone we can get to know. There it is, the slightest thaw in the chill we have been feeling. A ray of sun peeks out from the stormclouds.
It's not a bright sun, but the promise of one. It's not a lack of rainclouds, but a hope that they will be gone. It's not a hot summers day, but a warm spring one, still holding on to the slight chill of days past.
We know now that the sun will rise again, and summer will return, but we now have the wisdom to expect the rainclouds, the knowledge that we will get through them, and the peace that even as seasons change, they serve a purpose. We become stronger, we become mature, we become SURE that there is hope, peace, and God's hand with us in all we face.
We don't like the storms, but what, if we allow it, do we learn about ourselves, our God, and our lives? Can we be thankful even for the thunderclouds and the dark, stormy nights?
(I am directing this mostly to singles as we tend to have less 'stable' networks of people (spouses hopefully weather these things together) to lean on in times like these)
Naturally, this reminds me of the Casting Crowns song, PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM. I felt that God gave me that song about 3 years ago when I was going through a particular storm. Sometimes it's hard to give praise to Him when you're in the midst of the storm, but eventually (hours, days) you realize that you're not alone in your struggle.
I want to post more, but it'll have to wait until later. 
_____________________________
Take my poll: Favorite Radio/TV Pastors & Teachers
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 4:46:57 PM
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joy2give2u
Posts: 5058
Joined: 9/19/2006
From: Indiana
Status: offline
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quote:
This thread comes from thoughts in several threads in the last few days/weeks. For a few weeks now God has been prompting me to share something on singles but I have not.........I keep making excuses why the timing is not right or I don't have time.........each time one of the post you elude to was posted I would feel a prompting yet I chose to respond by making other threads which I thought would be acceptable instead.........but I knew none of them was really what God wanted me to post.........
I am thankful you posted KuKu.......and at the same time apology to everyone else in the singles thread for not being obedient.
quote:
We don't like the storms, but what, if we allow it, do we learn about ourselves, our God, and our lives? Can we be thankful even for the thunderclouds and the dark, stormy nights? I will share later tonight.........and this time I will not chicken out........I need to go collect my thoughts and pray first.
Again thank you for posting KuKu.
_____________________________
Transformation happens NOT when we get through scripture BUT when scripture gets through Us
My Smiles
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 4:51:43 PM
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John_O
Posts: 8049
Joined: 9/5/2006
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Grace-N-Mercy
Naturally, this reminds me of the Casting Crowns song, PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM.
Ah, my theme song!!
Friedrich Nietzsche said, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." And there is a lot of truth in that. (And there would be seeing as it's a paraphrase of scripture)
Ro 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
What is patience more than the ability to tie a knot in your rope and hang on?
I lost M 3 years ago. I am a much stronger person now for having gone through that.
In two ways. The first is that my own limits were pushed to the max. I can deal with things now which would have destroyed me before. My perseverance muscles were built.
The second, and more important is that I learned that I can't do it by myself. I spent a lot of time crying out to God and He sustained me. I never could have made it through otherwise.
Am I strong? You bet. But Jesus is so much stronger and I know to call on him better now than I ever did.
I am thankful for being stronger. I am thankful for being able to help others going through it. I am thankful that I got to know M. I am thankful that she is no longer suffering. I am thankful for my daughter. I am thankful Jesus carried me through that time. But I'm still not quite thankful for the time itself.KWIM?
_____________________________
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 5:55:24 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 2097
Joined: 12/11/2007
Status: offline
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Yet another quick post....I'm still at work...and won't be around tonight to answer.
I went through the worst storm of my life when my relationship with my daughter's dad ended--with him running off with another woman. I wasn't really a Christian, but I hung out with some Christian people. Did it make me stronger? Nah, it hardened me, made me bitter, made me build walls higher that no one can get through. I became so completely self reliant, so independent, so tough something in me wilted and almost died.
Then, somehow God got ahold of me. And he's showing me How to do life differently. How to face the storm differently. He's softening me up, asking me to be less independent, teaching me How to relate better with people. I notice that lately, my walls are starting to come down. I'm a little less arrogant about what I can do, and who I am. I'm a little more compassionate for the pain of others. I feel a little more beautiful with the true inner beauty... the toughness is being turned into tenderness.
Not that I've arrived, as Paul said. It's a daily dying of the self, and following GOd through the midst of the storms of life that somewhat polish off the rough edges in me.
Yeah, storms are good if you weather it with God on your side. Otherwise, you'd be like a lot of people who are so tough outside, but pretty much dead or dying inside---like I was.
< Message edited by Prairiehiker -- 10/1/2008 11:18:22 PM >
_____________________________
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19: 1
____________________________________
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. King Solomon
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 6:15:05 PM
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joy2give2u
Posts: 5058
Joined: 9/19/2006
From: Indiana
Status: offline
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Great post PH.........
_____________________________
Transformation happens NOT when we get through scripture BUT when scripture gets through Us
My Smiles
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 8:43:50 PM
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wfisaac
Posts: 1909
Joined: 3/18/2007
From: Tip of the Mitt
Status: offline
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Have you ever been driving through a storm where the wind is blowing and it's raining and it's very dark all around you and you look down the road and it's like you can see the edge of the storm and past that you see the sun shining? Well, that's where I'm at and I'm hoping to get past the edge of this storm. It's been a very long storm. I made a decision to relocate back here to Michigan back in September 04 and I came out very excited and expecting awesome things to happen. Instead it felt like I had many things torn away from me. Since I have moved here I have had to go through the loss of 8 deaths (I'm not exaggerating!) Mostly family and two of them were children...one 3 year old and one 8 year old. Those have been very emotionally draining and I could tell it was really starting to take it's toll on me.
And on top of that I had a job for 3 years that sucked the life right out of me.
I think through this time I have been learning to have a determination that I am not going to crawl into a hole although I honestly felt like I wanted to at times. I am going to be stubborn and keep my face upward towards my Heavenly Father. I've seen when a parent was holding a childs hand and that child didn't want to stand so they were kind of limp and if the parent were to let go of their hand they would fall to the ground. Well...God hasn't let go of my hand.
I am sensing a stir in my heart that things are going to change soon. And they have been. I'm excited to finally, hopefully get to the edge of this storm and get into that sunshine for a while. I know there will be more storms...but I know God will provide the strength I need when that time comes.
_____________________________
Veronica
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 10:27:34 PM
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KuKu
Posts: 897
Joined: 5/20/2005
From: Somewhere out there
Status: offline
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Some of the words to a song by Rascal Flatts (Stand)
You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand
Life's like a novel with the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon with only one way down
Take what you're given before its gone
Start holding on, keep holding on
Everytime you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place...
I have taken to listening to it on the way to work when I suspect it's gonna be a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng day ;)
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 10:44:44 PM
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Prairiehiker
Posts: 2097
Joined: 12/11/2007
Status: offline
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SInce we're posting a lot of songs that inspires us, this has been mine for the last 2 years...and it really got me through some tough times....I can't post all the lyrics because of TOS violation...but here's some of the more inspiring words...It's called I hope you dance....
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
_____________________________
The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19: 1
____________________________________
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. King Solomon
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 10:46:32 PM
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mutinywxgirl
Posts: 12868
Joined: 4/29/2005
From: west coast of FL
Status: offline
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(reminder - we cannot post entire lyrics - only the first part with a link to the rest)
_____________________________
When blood and water hit the ground.
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down.
We were free and made alive.
The day true love died. The day true love died.
Lisa is happy THE ROWDIES ARE BACK!
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RE: The Storms of Life - 10/1/2008 11:26:47 PM
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rgod
Posts: 1473
Joined: 4/25/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: KuKu
This thread comes from thoughts in several threads in the last few days/weeks.
Our lives come in seasons. Sometimes it seems like one good thing after another. Lots of friends, close family, going to school, a good job, a really great church, an awesome SO, etc. Life is really sunny.
Then something happens, be it graduation, a fight with the SO, death, health crises, divorce, ________, and suddenly the clouds appear, and life isn't quite so pleasant anymore. For some of us, when it rains, it REALLY pours. We are in a season of cold winds, dark skies, and storms on the horizon.
And many times, it seems to get colder and colder. The divorce leads to family fights, in which friends and the church also takes sides, which leads to holidays alone and alienation from those we love. The now ex- boy/girlfriend/fiancee reminds us that we are imperfect and can be rejected. The graduation sends us alone into a world where jobs don't come easily, family isn't as willing to support an adult child, and we are struggling to make it from day to day. Our health is failing and between medical visits, medical costs, and time spent trying to figure things out, we don't have time to connect with people like we did. We are stranded alone in the cold, and fighting to survive.
The something happens. Family members forgive, an old college roommate calls, we figure out a medical solution to manage our situation, we get the call back for a second interview, and we are hired, we meet a new 'friend' at church. It may not be the job we wanted, but it's a job, it may not be the guy/gal we were pining for, but it's someone we can get to know. There it is, the slightest thaw in the chill we have been feeling. A ray of sun peeks out from the stormclouds.
It's not a bright sun, but the promise of one. It's not a lack of rainclouds, but a hope that they will be gone. It's not a hot summers day, but a warm spring one, still holding on to the slight chill of days past.
We know now that the sun will rise again, and summer will return, but we now have the wisdom to expect the rainclouds, the knowledge that we will get through them, and the peace that even as seasons change, they serve a purpose. We become stronger, we become mature, we become SURE that there is hope, peace, and God's hand with us in all we face.
We don't like the storms, but what, if we allow it, do we learn about ourselves, our God, and our lives? Can we be thankful even for the thunderclouds and the dark, stormy nights?
(I am directing this mostly to singles as we tend to have less 'stable' networks of people (spouses hopefully weather these things together) to lean on in times like these)
This is so beautifully written KuKu! And so true.
_____________________________
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"There are no accidents in the life of faith. In its music, the accidentals perfect the harmony." 
