Is There A Storm Brewing? By Pastor Kelly Dunn

slowly dim the lights and bring up thunderstorm sounds

Close your eyes and imaging the worst storm you have ever been through:

Heavy Rain

Flooding

Hail

Lightening

Thunder

Tornadic winds

Trees whipping to and fro

Stuff flying through the air

Bring lights up and thunderstorm sounds down,

Were you scared?

Was your peace upended?

Was your life uprooted?

Were you home safe inside your house?

These physical storms remind me of storms of life that we all go through:

Relationship struggles

Family struggles

Physical health struggles

Job struggles

Financial struggles

Addiction struggles

Mental health struggles

You fill in the blank with your struggles

WE ALL struggle at time or another. How do we keep our faith in the God while we struggle through the issues of this life? How do we keep that joy that passes all understanding? How do we continue in our walk and minister to others?

The end of last year was hard for me. The Lord brought a lady into my life that was a God thing. We become instant friends and just loved each other. She ended up in the hospital very sick and dying. At the same time my mom was hospitalized with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension and my great aunt was placed on hospice care. All this was in the last two weeks of December. I lost my friend and my aunt during this time. My mom got better and got to go home. Probably most of you had no idea that I was going through all of that. It was hard and there were days I just wanted to stay in my pajamas, sit in my chair and watch Hallmark movies to take my mine off of all the heartache but for the Lord.

I bet you are wondering how I made it through and how you can too?

First and foremost run to Jesus! It’s okay to cry out to the God in your pain. Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-44

Matthew 26:36–44 (NLT)

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.

The key here is to remember that God does not always take away our struggles but when we submit to His will He is there walking through it with us. When we get up off the floor through our tears and pain we dust ourselves off and follow the Lord faithfully in whatever the Lord has called us to do. I have had times in my life where the pain was so great that all could do was cry and let the Holy Spirit intercede for me. By the way it is okay to pray for yourself as it says in Romans 8:26-27

New Living Translation (Chapter 8)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

I have had to dust myself off and keep doing what the Lord has called me to do even in my pain. I kept teaching the kids and ladies Bible study in that I found a joy that only the Lord can give. It says in Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Another way to get through our struggles is to get out of our own heads by pray for and help others. In Ephesians 6:18 says

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

And Hebrews 13:16 says

Hebrews 13:16 (NLT)

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Our struggles don’t seem as bad or as significant when we are helping others in their struggles. We are in this together. Probably the last thing I wanted to do lately was fix some clothing for people that needed it but I did hem some pants, fix a dress and sewed a stuffy back together. You know what? It made me feel better. My struggles and pain were lessened by helping others.

Another way to help ourselves through our struggles is to study, meditate on and memorize the Word. Romans 15:4 says

Romans 15:4 (NLT)

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

and Proverbs 3:1-2 says

Proverbs 3:1–2 (NIV)

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you peace and prosperity.

The Word is our map for living this life both in the good times and in the struggles so stay in the Word.

Have you ever walked into church on Sunday in a really bad mood?

You and your spouse had a fight, your kids wouldn’t cooperate and you hit all red lights on the way and were late.

You walk in, praise and worship has started. You melt into your seat and let the music and words sooth your soul. Things don’t seem so bad. You feel the presence of the Holy Spirit wash over you. Life is going to be okay. This is how the Lord speaks to me through music. It can take the worst possible day and change it into a day that the Lord has made. Peace and joy wash over my soul. Praise and worship is another way to change how we see our struggles. Psalm 100

Psalm 100 (NLT)

A psalm of thanksgiving.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are his.

,,We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Praise and worship changes our perspective from us and our struggles to an almighty loving God who cares about us and our struggles.

This life is only a moment in the light of eternity.

Whether we live one year or 100 years in this life, it is only a moment. Whatever you are going through even if it seems like lifetime is only a moment in the light of eternity with Jesus. Keep your eyes on Jesus in the struggle it really is only a moment and as it says in Revelation 21:4

Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Did you catch that? “All these things will be gone FOREVER! F O R E V E R!! Gone forever throughout all eternity. Again, keep your heart and mind set on Jesus and these struggle will fade in the light of eternity.

Again if you are in the midst of the struggles of this life remember to:

Run to Jesus. He is waiting and understands what you are going through.

Dust yourself off and keep doing what the Lord has called you to do.

Get out of your own head by pray for and helping others.

Study, meditate, and memorize the Word.

Praise and worship refocuses our heart and mind on an almighty loving God who cares about our struggles.

This is only a moment in the light of eternity with Jesus.

Play Rescue story by Zach William quietly in the background

If we continue to practice these steps during our struggles they will become a way of life whatever life throws at us: in the good times and in the bad. We will have that peace that passes all understanding deep down in our hearts and souls. We will have joy unspeakable and be full of glory.

1 Peter 1:7-9

1 Peter 1:7–9 (NLT)

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

And remember that it is okay to dance in storm finding peace joy in the struggle. Jesus is our rescuer and King forever. If you would like prayer come on up. We would love to pray with you.