Weathered Storms

Weathered Storms

Our town of Shelby has been recovering from a F-2 Tornado that tore through it.  After the Tornado hit, my husband and I drove around. It was unbelievable to see all the barns and houses that had been ripped apart.  Complete devastation was one word to describe what you observed as you drove around Shelby.  Miles and miles of fields littered with mangled sheet metal and other debris from what had once been barns and houses. 

One amazing sight in the aftermath of the Tornado was the hundreds of volunteers that came out.  They helped clean up people’s property, and cut down trees, but they also went out into the fields and began clearing all of the debris.  Why were they doing this? Why did they feel the need to remove debris from fields so quickly? Because this Tornado hit mostly in the rural parts of Shelby, which contains hundreds of acres of farm land.

April in Northeast Ohio means field preparing and planting by all the farmers.  A farmer can’t prepare his fields when the fields are strewn with massive amounts of debris.  If the farmer doesn’t prepare their fields and plant their crop, they will not yield a harvest. 

Since driving around that day, it has been hard to not reflect on the devastation the tornado brought to Shelby. The images of the mangled sheet metal strewn all over the fields has remained in my mind.  As I was processing it all, I began to relate it to our spiritual walk and harvest.  In that moment God whispered this to me. 

“Give Me the freedom to remove the debris from your mind.  

Then I can begin the process of giving you a new mind.”  

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but someone surely does.  We weather storms in our lives. Marriage problems, broken relationships with family, financial hardships, physical and mental illnesses, the list goes on and on.  These experiences can be traumatic and terrifying. We encounter these storms and debris begins to be strewn across our minds.  Decisions were made, words were spoken and actions had been taken that sometimes can’t be taken back.  Before we know it or, before we can even prevent it, our minds become cluttered by this debris. 

The lingering debris begins to affect how we think, how we feel, how we talk about ourselves, and how we talk to each other.  What was once a field that had bountiful harvest, has become a devastated wasteland covered with debris.  It is when we come to this realization that the clean-up, the recovery process can begin. For many, the conditions that they see, the moments that they relive, seem impossible to overcome.  How do we even begin removing this unsurmountable amount of debris? 

Luckily for us, God has given us an amazing manual for our lives. Let’s dig into His word and see what it tells us!  

The storms in our lives leave us with debris, obstacles, and strongholds in our lives.  But God’s word reminds that He is the true stronghold is in our lives.  Hold tight to this promise!

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

    of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 27:1 NIV

The conditions that the storms in our lives leave behind can make us think that we have no choice but to fix everything ourselves.  Look at this reminder though! God wants to take hold of our hand and help us through it.  He want us to allow Him to care for us! He is our helper.

For I am the Lord your God

    who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

    I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV

Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.[a]

1 Peter 5:7 TPT

In the aftermath of all the storms that we have weathered in life, God has a message for us. He didn’t say to remove the debris for yourself so that you can obtain freedom. He clearly said to me:

“Give Me the freedom to remove the debris from your mind.  

Then I can begin the process of giving you a new mind.” 

Let’s allow God to renew our minds.  For far too long we have allowed the debris to linger. Lingering debris steals our joy and robs us of the life that God intends for us.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

Romans 12:2 ESV

God desires us to walk in freedom, to step up out of defeat and into victory!  Allow God to remove the debris from your mind so that you can once again have a bountiful harvest.

“So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God,[a] praising him always.”

Philippians 4:8 TPT

I decided to look up the definition of freedom. Freedom means to have the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.  Who does not need this in their life?  Through God freedom is attainable, we are not exempt because of storms that we have weathered! Let us relinquish control and allow God the freedom, so that we will be able to walk in the true freedom He has for us.  

“May I never forget your truth, for I rely upon your precepts.

I will observe your laws every moment of the day

and will never forget the words you say.

I will walk with you in complete freedom,

for I seek to follow your every command.”

Psalms 119:43-45 TPT