Calm in the Storm . . .

There is a song that says "I have but one supreme desire, that I may be like Jesus . . .." This has been our prayer for a while now – truly desiring to be like Christ. This year has been one of true spiritual growth in our lives. We have seen specific answers to prayer in ways we haven’t in a while. However, sometimes God answers in ways that are hard for us to accept. In our plea to the Lord to grow us and change us, He has led us to some very difficult "forks in the road."

Being in the ministry has been one of our greatest joys – with hardships at times. There have been blessings beyond comprehension and deep hurts that no one but Jesus can understand. We have loved serving the Lord in youth ministry. It has been a true passion for us. However, a couple weeks ago, the Lord directed us to give up the thing we love the most - our ministry. We need to grow. We need to be refined and fit for the Master’s use. He needs to be in control of our lives. I am learning that obedience is not always an easy thing to do. Often I ask my children to do something that they don’t want to do (clean their rooms, put away a snack they sneaked out of the stash . . . ) and I expect them to willingly obey. However, when my Lord asks me to give up something that I dearly love – a good thing – I have a hard time trusting and obeying Him. He has the bird’s eye view. Not me. He knows what He is going to do in all this. Not me.

Please pray for us in this time of transition. There are many things that we are tempted to worry about. Paul needs a job, we need to find a home, our church family is hurting, our church will be looking for a new youth pastor . . .and the list goes on. We want to have joy and God’s peace in the midst of this storm. Pray that we will lean on the One who calms the storm.

When your life seems like a tempest, when the waves beat on your breast,
When the wind is hurling round you and there is no place to rest,
Then you look out through the shadows and you see Him looking too,
Saying "Hush" – not to the storm, but saying "Hush" now to you.

Trust the One who’s walking on the water.
Trust the One who’s leading in the storm.
When you cannot see the shoreline, when there’s no goal in sight,
Would you focus on the certainty that all will be alright?
Trust in Him who made the tempest.
Trust in Him though tossed and torn.
Trust the One who walks on water in your storm.

When your life seems overwhelming, when your nights seem hard and long,
When the burdens seem unending and the enemy a throng.
Through the Word the Savior’s saying firmly, calling tenderly,
"Peace be still" – not to the storm, but "Peace be still" now to you.

Hasten now, O weary pilgrim, don’t you fear and don’t you doubt.
Would you trust your gracious Savior though your life seems tossed about?
Oh, remain within the tempest, seeing Jesus in the way.
May the trial to you be precious as you trust Him and obey.

Trust the One who’s walking on the water.
Trust the One who’s leading in the storm.
When you cannot see the shoreline, when there’s no goal in sight,
Would you focus on the certainty that all will be alright?
Trust in Him who made the tempest.
Trust in Him though tossed and torn.
Trust the One who walks on water in your storm.