MAY 31, 2024
ON THE PORCH
WHAT WAS THAT???
**Disclaimer: I am not posting this devo for sympathy. God protected us. I am just trying to be real with what God is working on in my heart…and if I need it, I figure others might, too.
**Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say. Isaiah 28:23
Benny and I have been trying to get away together for months now. We were finally able to take a short, quick trip to our Oasis a couple days ago with our camper in tow. (Really, it is New Mexico’s state park, but we call it ours.)
I was exhausted, restless, and out of sorts when we arrived. I unpacked and stored everything we brought where they needed to be. While trying to have a conversation with Benny, I fell asleep around 6 pm.
About midnight, we heard someone beating on our door. After waking up a little, we realized it wasn’t our front door they were pounding on, it was the trailer. We both sat up in bed and listened. Something was pummeling the camper. That’s when we realized it was hail. When we’d gone to bed, there was a 0% chance of rain in the forecast. But here was an unpredicted hailstorm in all its glory.
Benny pulled up his weather app, and it showed one tiny cloud right above us and a tornado warning in effect. So, we got dressed to our shoes, held the dogs to calm them, and waited, avoiding walking under skylights.
For an hour, the winds howled and the baseball size hail furiously rained down around us. We couldn’t hear anything other than the deafening roar. After the thunderous winds calmed and the hail ceased, we walked around outside to assess what damage we could in the dark, then went back to bed.
The first thing I noticed yesterday morning when we stepped outside were the birds singing. Even after being in the hailstorm of a lifetime with limited cover, they still sang their little hearts out, with praise to our Creator.
**The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12
While throwing a fit, God instructed Elijah to get up and go stand on the mountain. He experienced a great and powerful wind that tore the mountain apart and shattered rocks. Then an earthquake hit. Next came a fire that I’m assuming was raging, it indicated by the first two disasters. In all that, God was not in it.
So, when the gentle whisper came, Elijah’s heart was prepared and ready to hear the LORD. The Bible doesn’t say, but I think these terrifying events probably postured Elijah’s heart to hear God’s voice better. He did not miss it.
I’m not totally sure if hearing the birds sing would have been such a big deal to me if we hadn’t gone through the storm. I might have just heard it as background noise instead of stopping to truly listen.
When in situations like that hailstorm unexpectedly hit, we are reminded of what really matters and what doesn’t. The safety of those we love comes to mind and takes center stage. Not much else matters. Thankfully, there was not a tornado and although we had lots of pickup and RV damage, Benny and I and our pups were safe. We can always replace things or live without them. But we cannot replace those we love.
**“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
Neither Benny nor I got very emotional about the damage from the storm. We prayed for safety, then waited it out. There was really nothing else we were in control of.
Yesterday morning, Benny got on the roof of the RV and patched up what he could. We thanked God for His protection, we started insurance claims, then we went fishing. We decided to stay and try to enjoy the rest of the trip.
After lunch, Benny came into the bedroom where I was napping and apologetically informed me that we needed to pack up and go home. More storms were brewing, and we could not stay. Now THAT is when I threw a huge hissy fit like a toddler and pouted all the way home. I’m a little embarrassed to admit how many things I threw around the trailer “getting things packed up.”
Elijah was throwing a temper tantrum when God showed up and passed by. He never tells us to suck it up. When our hearts are hurting, He is ready to comfort us and give us peace. A little bit ago, a friend reminded me that it is okay to feel disappointed and frustrated for a little while. After all, we have been trying to get away for months, and this was our 4th try. i sat with those emotions for a little while, now I can move on.
“Feelings are made to be felt, not fixed.” – Jennie Allen
This morning, I am better, and in all the chaos and calamity, God is still good, and God is still good at being God.
LORD, give me ears to hear and a longing heart to listen for Your still small voice above the roar. When the world rages around me, bring peace to my soul and remind me that You are always in control. Nothing surprises You.
Ease my mind,
still my soul, and
quiet my heart,
so I can hear You speak.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM https://youtu.be/I7UE_EuFLj4?si=7hG6rLxcABwkIPjf
ON THE PORCH 