This past week I’ve been studying verses about trusting in God. They have been very encouraging I’ve been studying verses like Psalm 28:7, Hebrews 13:8 and Isaiah 41:10. They have really encouraged my soul and help me understand Our heavenly Father more.
When I do my study, I like to write whatever verse I’m reading down in three different versions. I do this so I can get a better understanding of what I’m reading and for God to show me what he wants me to see. As I was writing down one of the verses that speaks about staying in God’s peace, then God reminded me about something he showed me the week before in the middle of a storm. The week before had been sort of like a storm for me. That was the reason I decided studying the verses about trusting in God would help me refocus.
As I was sitting in the couch looking out the window at the storm that had just started, all of a sudden, a bird flew right in clear view of the windowpane I was looking out of. It was almost like I was looking at a painting, because suddenly, this bird just stopped in the middle of the sky. I was amazed that it was just flying and then just stopped. What I thought was interesting was that it didn’t fall out the sky. It was staying up in the sky with its wings out like it was flying but it was not flapping. At that moment I realized that this unusual (for me) occurrence was God trying to tell me something.
I began asking the Holy Spirit what he was trying to show me. The storm had some strong winds blowing, just like I felt was blowing through my life. Then I heard, stay in peace because I can keep you up just like I can keep the bird in the sky. Then, I finally realized what I was seeing. The bird in the sky understood that if it just sat and coasted on the wind instead of flapping its wings it would be better. It knew it would be hard trying to go forcefully through the wind and if it stayed in place the wind would keep it in the sky. It knew that God would not allow it to fall and that it could coast in peace in the heavy winds of the storm. The Holy Spirit showed me that if the bird kept flapping its wings to push through the storm his wings would get tired, and it could fall out of the sky flapping on its own might. However, if it rested and held its position it could ride through the storm in peace, because the very wind that could blow it over would hold it up during the storm.
How many times have we been up against a storm like that? We’ve been flapping our wings going through life and then the next thing you know a big storm comes and the wind is so heavy and strong that we feel like we’re not even going to make it through. Then, we get tired from trying to flap our wings through the storm and force our way through it. My question to you is, do you do like the bird and realize that the storm is bigger than you but the God who created it can hold you up in it? Or do you do the opposite and start flapping your wings as hard as you can to fly and push through the storm? I won’t lie, sometimes I when things hit, I don’t remember that I could pull back in peace and lay in my heavenly Father’s arms to ride out the storm. However, the bird is an animal, and it acts on instinct. It knew automatically to pause and stay in peace because the storm was not going to last forever. The wind was not going to last forever. So, it needed to pause in peace and get rest so that when the wind of the storm finished it could begin to fly again and it wouldn’t be tired.
That is such a hard concept for us to understand. When the storms of life come, we automatically start trying to figure out what can we do to get out of it. Did you hear that I said what can WE do? Basically, we began to start flapping our wings as fast as we can to get out of the storm. Which I just said would have tired the bird and it most definitely would have fell out the sky due to exhaustion. When the storms of life come The Bible tells us that we are supposed to stand firm In Christ Jesus and stay in His peace. For the storms of life were never ours to battle. If we could just have that instinct like the bird to know this storm is too strong for me, so I need to stand in peace and let my Father who controls every storm handle it. Then I can wait for Him to tell me when I can start flapping my wings again; when I can get up and start moving again.
We were never meant to carry the burden of any storm that we go through. God did not build our bodies to take stress. That is why stress kills. If we stress our bodies sickness comes, disease comes, distress comes. We begin to feel the effects like the bird would have if it had kept flapping. God built our bodies to do what he wanted us to do which is depend on him when the storms of life come. To depend on him for direction so that we can miss some of the storms of life. He wants us to have a relationship with him so that He can guide us through the things of life. When things get heavy, we are to stay in peace and ride the wind as He carries us through.
I’ve placed a few of the verses that I was studying this past week below. I put them in the version that spoke to me the most. I hope that they are encouraging to you and that you may take the time to look at other versions that may speak to you even more. Until next time, be blessed.
Verses:
Romans 8:28-31 (AMP)
28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. 30 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity]. 31 What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?
Psalm 28:7 (MSG)
6-7 Blessed be God—he heard me praying. He proved he’s on my side; I’ve thrown my lot in with him. Now I’m jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to him.
Isaiah 41:10 (AMPC)
10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5-6 Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Check out another episode of The Shower Chronicles at https://anchor.fm/sheena-brown2/episodes/Relationship-vs-Religion-e1i1dkn