Friends and family with health issues. Broken Relationships. Decisions to be made. Pain. Sorrow. Silence. Seeking direction. Death. Diagnosis. War. Fighting - external, internal. Depression. Addictions. Mistreatment. Abuse. Fear.
Sometimes the weight of this broken world becomes overwhelming, feeling like life is swirling around us. Kind of as a Part 2 to the previous blog, "Calm in the Chaos", I felt led to continue considering the challenge in finding that "calm". It's possible to find the peace. The stillness. Many years ago I was at a Women of Faith weekend and during one of the worship sessions I was singing and praying. It had been one of those weeks that felt heavy with the awareness of many people around me who were experiencing difficult situations. There were health issues, relational issues, tensions, decisions to be made, sadness... As I was praying I began thinking of all these and visualized a mighty, windy storm with them all swirling all around me. A helpless feeling of not being able to grab a hold of even one. But as I continued my time in prayer, my conversation with Jesus, I sensed an invitation to join Him. He extended His hand and led me to the "eye of the storm". He invited me to step onto the rock on which He stood, there in the middle of the storm, yet in a space where there was stillness. It was the feel of what, scientifically is true in the middle of a hurricane - in the eye of a hurricane, things are calm and still. But what extreme peace I experienced as, spiritually, I joined my heavenly Father on the solid rock there in the eye of the storms of life swirling around me. My conversation continued. I didn't get the sense that all the issues and problems that I or the people around me are facing would go away, be fixed, disappear; but even in this broken world - in the midst of the stuff we go through, the presence of Jesus can be experienced and can bring what is needed to get through it. Not only did I sense and accept this amazing invitation to be in His presence, I felt challenged to not just soak in the peace and be still, but I felt led to worship and praise Him there! Hmmm - what a concept - as the storms are raging around, go to the eye - and worship. How often when we find ourselves in the swirling winds do we pause and worship? But that was exactly what I felt God desired. I was moved to tears as the worship continued there in that stadium, as I found my way from being drowned in the burdens of life to standing firm on the rock of Peace, and enter into worship, praising Him with all my heart! I came home that weekend to an empty house (which was unusual), and I found myself sitting at my piano. I want to share the lyrics to a song that God gave me in this situation - a song that He put on my hear to write, and serve as a concrete memory and marker of that holy experience! In the Eye of the Storm I hear the cries of my friends in need I see the faces of sadness and sorrow I cry tears for the bonds that are broken And feel the loneliness of the forsaken Where can I go? What can I do? The storm is about to break through I turn to You In the eye of the storm You are peace In the eye of the storm I will praise When the whirlwinds of life surround me I take hold of Your mighty hand On your rock I'll stand In the eye of the storm I feel the agony of the sick I hear the insults, the lies and the judgments That are flames full of scorching words And the worries to be discerned Where can I go? What can I do? The storm is about to break through I turn to You In the eye of the storm You are peace In the eye of the storm I will praise When the whirlwinds of life surround me I take hold of Your mighty hand On your rock I'll stand In the eye of the storm The lightning strikes and the thunder rolls And the rain begins to pour Close my eyes, bend my knees and cry out to you There is only one place to go Be still and know. In the eye of the storm You are peace In the eye of the storm I will praise When the whirlwinds of life surround me I take hold of Your mighty hand On your rock I'll stand In the eye of the storm Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present in help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire. He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. BE STILL, KNOW GOD, AND EXALT HIS MIGHTY NAME!!!!! May you find your way to the Rock in the eye of the storms of life - and praise Him!
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AuthorVicki Conn Archives
June 2017
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