Stormy Weather.

STORM.

One has just ended. One is coming.

Many are ahead. Many are behind us.

The word STORM has come up more times that I would like to recount in the passed week.

In nature. In family. In friendships. In my relationship with the Lord.

What are these storms? What will I learn from them? How will they change me?

This time pondering storms began with in this moment:

Last week I went to the First Light shelter in Birmingham and spent some time talking with and loving on the women of this ministry.
A sweet woman, lets call her Gladice, was sharing with me her testimony. Filled with abuse and despair- Gladice’s life is one that has had many a storm.
This sweet sister looked at me with tear-filled eyes and grabbed my hands. She then said a phrase that dug its way quickly to my core…
“Little girl- Storms ARE coming in life. Big and small- we can’t hide from them. I have tried- they force there way in. But God is with us in them. Saves us from them.
The storms aren’t as scary knowing we always have Jesus to cover our heads and keep us from harm”

Incredible. Re-read that. Truth in those words.

I love words and knowing the meaning of them.

Definition of Storm-
Noun: A violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
Verb: Move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction

Synonyms of Storm:
Tempest. Gale. Assault. Rage.

All negative.
Angry. Disturbing. Strong. Rage. Specific.

I cannot name one “storm” in my life that I have craved.
I have never cried out to the Lord…Send a violent season to me! Disturb my days! Specifically bring destruction and hurt to my life!

None the less- Storms have come. God has been good- never failed me.
And at the end of each storm a lesson was learned and a heart was molded to look more like Jesus and less like this world.

God allows the storms. Uses them in our lives to humble us, draw us to Himself, and remind us that He is a refuge for us.

I think of the storms that are going on in my life and spirit right now-
Some are heavier than others- All of them are keeping me up at night.

((( Venting time- Night time is when the storms are the hardest for me to bear. I worry. I do not sleep. The “thunder” is the loudest then.)))

Now… for the HOPE in the STORMS that I, more than ever, need to be reminded of.


Luke 8:22-25

Jesus Calms a Storm

" 22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”


I read this just this morning and got so frustrated with the men in the boat.
Why didn’t they just trust Jesus to calm the storm?
Why did they believe that they were perishing when Jesus was right beside them?

They knew He could do it. They knew He was in control.
They knew that in His time the storm would pass and they would be safe.
Why in the world didn’t they trust him?

I put my hazelnut coffee down on the coffee table.
Stood up.
Looked at myself in the mirror… (Literally…judge not)
And said…

“Amy. Marie. Houston. Byrd.
Why are you not trusting Jesus to calm the storms.
You know He can do it. You know He is in control.
You know that in His time the storm will pass and you will be safe.
Why in the WORLD aren’t you trusting him?”

Y’all. Why is it so hard to live out daily the hope we HAVE in Jesus?

People will Leave. Fail. Disappoint. Hurt.
Jesus will not.

Life will be complicated. Ever changing. Unpredictable.
Jesus is never-changing.

Storms will Pound us. Move us. Scare us.
Jesus will be refuge.

I guess in all of this I am trying to say to you-
What are your storms?

Don’t say you don’t have any. You do. You will.
To quote Gladice- “Storms ARE coming. Big and Small”

One of my dearest friends, Kelsie, and I were running errands this passed Saturday and found ourselves in the midst of a conversation that both encouraged me and drew me quickly to the feet of Jesus.

We just both admitted that we have know clue what life the Lord has ahead of us. We know that there will be difficult days where we feel like we have been defeated.
We know many days will be filled with joy and blessings. And the unknown was almost too much for either of us to verbalize....however...we both encouraged and reminded each other that our Savior has gone before us and made a way.

Our God will prepare us for the storms. He will be with us in all of our days and as we take each of our steps.

I pray that today as you weather the storms that may consume your heart that you may find hope in Christ who is our refuge and strength. That we could place our trust in a God whose timing is infallible and whose plan is intentional. Our God is ever present in our time of need. Lean on Him. Let Him hold you up and be your strength.