“…No one’s life is a smooth sail; we all come into stormy weather. But it’s adversity – and more specifically our resilience – that makes us strong and successful…”
This week, our #WellnessWednesday slot comes from our School Chaplain, Rev Tim Marshall.
I think many more people are going to stay up for New Years this year than previous years. And while I don’t believe we should be counting down the days to the end of this difficult year but rather live in the present and notice many things we can be grateful for, the fact remains that 2020 has been challenging. It’s been hard, and I’m pretty sure you have your own words to describe it. Let’s just say it’s been “stormy”.
When a storm comes into our lives – by choice or chance – there are a number of typical human responses, like denial, blaming, anger.
Ultimately we have to learn to adapt and cope. Just like sailors would adjust to the storm, we all have to adjust and find ways to deal with what life throws at us. In my previous posts I’ve written about the value of humour and sleep and there are many other suggestions we are all familiar with, like positive thinking, gratitude and a healthy diet.
May I put forward one further suggestion or perhaps a reminder for some. A fundamental truth we need reminding of is that you and I are not God. Now perhaps some may stop reading at this point but stay with me: when you make a decision that your 5 year old (or 15 year old!) doesn’t understand or agree with, we hope that they can trust that you love them, you are in control and that you want the best for them.
Why don’t we intentionally do the same when it comes to God? God is still in control, God has our best interests at heart, God is working on a plan we don’t fully understand and God loves us so deeply that His Son gave up his life for us.
So, in the midst of the anxiety you may feel in your heart, the difficulty sleeping, the unspoken fears, the uncertainty about the future, we pause to refocus our attention. God is still God. In the end, His purposes will prevail.
Do you remember Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water? I know it’s an overused application of the text, but his miracle happened when he kept his eyes on Jesus and trusted Him. When he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the waves and the impossibility of his situation, he started sinking.
That’s my encouragement to you this week.
Perhaps someone needs a reminder to pause and pull their attention off the storm and onto Jesus.
Someone needs a reminder that they are loved right now, just as they are.
Someone needs to know that God is with them in this storm and things will be okay.
A miracle can happen right under your feet if you look up in faith.