A couple of friends recently came for an overnight visit, driving through a pretty intensive storm. Storms are powerful forces of nature. They can bring on lots of rain, even hail at times, thunder, lightning, strong gale force winds and wreak havoc on neighborhoods, entire towns or cities, causing structural damage, demolishing homes, sometimes resulting in people being displaced. No matter how strong the storms are, whether they develop into a hurricane with torrential flooding or a tornado, they are an act of nature–Acts that can only be performed by God. No one or nothing else can form and control anything that powerful. As my grandma Rosetta Cherry used to say to us when a storm came, “Y’all sit down and be quiet! The Lord is doing His work! Hush now!”
Knowing who creates these storms, kind of wants you to see the beauty in them, right? We know the results of them can be, has been and will continue to have the potential to be devastating. But, when the storm is over, my friends…! When it’s over and you begin to gather yourself and pick up the pieces–the moment the lights come back on; when you look outside and you see a glimmer of light that means the blues skies are on the way; when you realize that you’ve actually survived–that God, once again, carried you, protected you and gave you relief from the storm..Oh what a feeling of relief and thankfulness!
Drawing those parallels and connecting the dots to the storms of life should give us little peace of mind, peace of spirit and Faith in God, that no matter the storm, no matter the magnitude of its power, no matter how much sadness or terror that they bring into our lives, as long as God extends His mercy, we can recover. Storms are certainly going to come and do what they are designed to do. We (me and you) have to determine how we’re going to react to them. We have to determine what the clean-up is going to look like. We have to determine how bright the sky is going to be in our lives when it’s over!! Recovery efforts are found in connecting to the spiritual source, the One who brings about peace, love, stability and markets the best deal on a storm kit that really works!
So, The Cherry Vine readers and followers, the next time you experience a storm, whether a storm of nature or a storm of life, think about the spectacular showcase of God’s work and power. Know that fear should turn into Faith. Know that rescue comes via Our Father. Know that recovery efforts can be taxing and frustrating, but blue skies are on the way…trust in God! Trust in who we are in Him, which allows us to focus on being victorious, not forever victimized by The Storm!
There are so many wonderful gospel songs about storms of that soothe your soul, like Yolanda Adams’, “My Soul Is Anchored”, “I Told The Storm”, by Greg O’Quinn, Kirk Franklin ‘ s “The Storm Is Over Now” and many others, but God speaks through many genres of music…I appreciate and love them all. As I thought of storms, this old tune released in 1972 by Johnny Nash (and yes, Nash, not Cash J), always made me smile while growing up, and is so fitting to lift us and prepare us for what storm recovery looks and feels like….
“I can see clearly now the rain has gone I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sun shiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sun shiny day
I think I can make it now, the pain has gone All of the bad feelings have disappeared Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sun shiny day.
Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies Look straight ahead, nothing but blues s-k-i-e-s
I can see clearly now the rain has gone….”
In closing, storms come, but blues skies are ahead. Pay attention to the storm. Learn the lesson of the storm and rest in knowing that on the other side of it, blue skies await you–Awaiting you to recognize that they’re there, but most of all, they await your knowing and giving thanks to The One who beautifully and strategically placed them there just for you to relax, find the peace in the aftermath and smile, because you endured yet another storm!
As you can tell, music really does feed my soul!! Check out “I Can See Clearly Now”:
Peace & Blessings,
Lisa B
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