Only After The Storm

I used to live on a boat. One day off the coast of Florida my husband and I were caught in an unexpected thunderstorm. We were close to shore but couldn’t get into harbor safely. We were experienced boaters so we decided to set anchor. After setting anchor, we went below and held tight to the faith we had that the anchor would hold and that we would be safe.

I find myself in the middle of one of life‘s storms right now. Sometimes the storm brings fog and we can’t see what’s right in front of us. Sometimes the storm brings wind that swirls us around where we can’t tell which direction we’re heading. Sometimes the storm brings thunder so loud that it shakes us at our core and keeps us from rest and sleep. Sometimes the storm brings hail that physically beats us down. Sometimes the storm brings such torrential rain that we can’t see our next steps.

No matter the storm or what the storm brings we have to hold fast to our anchor. Whether it’s grief from the loss of a loved one, a broken marriage, the loss of a job, the news of a terminal illness, or any other storm life throws at us, we have to hold fast to what anchors our soul. For me that anchor is a faith and HOPE in Christ. “We have this hope that is an anchor for the soul firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19

For it’s only after the fog clears that we can see what’s directly in front of us. It’s only after the wind quits swirling us around that we know what direction we’re heading. It’s only after the thunder stops that we can truly rest. It’s only after the hail stops that our broken bodies begin to heal. It’s only after the torrential rain stops that we can see our next steps. It’s only after the storm that the clouds part and the sun begins to shine that we can see the rainbow.

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