Ever since I was a little girl I was deathly afraid of storms. I used to watch the news at night to see how high the winds would going to get and if a storm was coming in. Now with my background of abuse, I had way more fears than a normal child should have had, but nevertheless...storms were a big deal to me. Our family lived with my Aunt in her home for my first 10 years, she too was scared of storms and if ever a big storm came up when I was upstairs in her apartment with her, we would have to stop whatever we were doing and go sit in the middle of her bed. Then she would take out all of her hair pins because she was afraid lighting would hit her, and there I would sit with her shaking like a leaf and holding me until the storm stopped. That probably didn't help my fears either.
It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized that my faith was pretty darn weak to be that afraid of anything. I really hadn't relied on God like I should have. That was something I began to learn and truly had to put to the test when I became a mother, because I didn't want my kids to be scared of everything like me. It was probably one of the greatest lessons that I learned. I finally after reading scripture after scripture about not being afraid, realized that I just needed to always try and to the best I can and leave the rest up to God. If I was to be protected and taken care of...I would be. What a comfort that has been as a mom, because there are sooooo many things out of your control when it comes to your children. So many times, I have had to ask the Lord to take care of them, when I knew there was no way I could be with them or protect them.
So today in church I got this sweet story and I thought as I watch out the window tonight at the storm coming in with the wind blowing hard, that I should share it with you. It is simple but direct, we can either have faith and be prepared or we can be constantly afraid. I hope we can choose faith rather than fear! Good night!
(Painting called Stormy night by Don Cook)
A farmer was looking for some hired help and he interviewed a dozen or so men until he found the last one with the qualifications. He asked him one final question, "why should I hire you?" and the man said, "because I can sleep when the wind blows." The farmer thought that was a curious answer, but hired the man.
One night a terrible storm blew in and the farmer was worried about his live stock and crops. In the middle of the night he bundled up and went to make sure everything was alright. As he walked around the farm, everything was already taken care of. The animals were safe and secure as well as the crops. The farmer was astonished and went to look for his worker. He arrived at the barn to find his worker peacefully asleep. The farmer finally realized what he meant when he said " I can sleep when the wind blows".
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear..."
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live." ~Dorothy Thompson
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