The storm outside was spectacular; thunder, lightning, pounding rain and strong wind.
My four year old daughter and I were playing with Barbies on the living room floor, trying to ignore the tempest outside. I knew that if I could keep us both distracted, the commotion outside wouldn’t be so frightening. So far, my plan was working.
It sounded like a bomb went off as a lightning bolt struck and the ensuing thunder crashed, taking the power out! With a startled yell, she jumped into my lap, terrified.
With a “mommy’s right here” tone of voice, I tried, unsuccessfully, to distract her from the noise outside. She was just too scared; her fear made my efforts futile.
As she sat trembling on my lap, the thunder resounding again and again around us, I took her face tenderly in my hands and said, “Look at ME!” Trembling, she turned her eyes to mine and I began to sing Sunday school songs to her.
Her child voice wavered at first, but as we sang, “This Little Light of Mine” and “Yes, Jesus Loves Me,” her voice grew stronger and she stopped shaking. The storm was still raging around us, but we sat, focused on each other; singing our Jesus songs.
Now, a life time later, my daughter has grown and married, I sat alone, terrified as the storm that had consumed my life crashed around me. Shaking, I leaned against the wall as emotional pain swept over me, sucking the air out of me with gale force winds. Trying to calm my insides down was like trying to nail jello to a piece of foam board.
I forced myself to focus on II Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Shaking my head in agreement, my thoughts tried to focus on God’s provision, His strength instead of my obvious fragility.
It was like satan had singled me out as his pet project. Every time I felt like I was getting back on my feet; another crushing blow hit. Too shaken and frightened to think clearly, I began to comfort myself with the familiar songs from childhood. As I sang, God whispered to my heart, “Look at ME.”
This Little Light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, I won’t LET satan blow it out, I’m going to let it shine! Jesus loves me YES I know, for the Bible tells me so; little ones to him belong, they are weak but HE is strong.
Bracing myself, I focus on what my heart knows to be true instead of what my eyeballs keep seeing. I love you, oh Lord, my strength. I CHOOSE to look at you and walk boldly on.
Psalms 27:8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
Prayer: Father, help me to focus the eyes of my heart on you when the storms come. Show me your steady hand, your constant presence. I’m weak, you are strong–hold me. Amen.