Tag: Strength

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I AM THE STORM

Fate whispered to the warrior, “You can not withstand the storm. ” The warrior whispered back, “I am the storm.” This quote is from an unknown author, considered Genghis Khan around 300 BC. I wear this on my wrist to remind myself that I am the storm. If I live within God’s will for my life, I am an unstoppable force. No force in this universe can stop God from achieving His will in your life but you.

There’s good news for those who are besieged. Jesus Christ can give us the strength not only to stand but also to soar above the storm.

If you have God’s blessing upon your actions, you are the raging storm. Any problem in your life must be faced by the army God has put at your disposal. What stops us from being that storm is uncertainty. We struggle to believe we have the correct answer to one or both of these questions: Am I genuinely living within God’s will, and does God care about what I am going through?

Fate’s Storm
Genesis 1:26-28, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."

We live in a broken world. We know that but forget that God has not relinquished control. He allows certain things because He has given man dominion, and He will not go back on His word. This commitment by God seems counterintuitive at times. Man creates so many problems for himself. If God can solve all problems, why doesn’t He? We have a lot of biblical theories about that; along with these theories, we must realize that no one knows God’s mind.

Romans 11:34, "For who among us can know the mind of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his counselor and guide?"

With our dominion, God also keeps control. He did not condemn us to a world out of control. God allows us to choose, and some choose unwisely. If we continue to seek Him, He will save us. See the story of Job. God made a wager with Satan when God stacked the deck in His favor, and He could not lose. Satan still doesn’t get that.

Matthew 28:18, "Jesus drew near and said to them, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.'"

The fall of Adam and Eve has opened the doors to sin and evil. Sin and evil do not always visit us because of our actions but because of the fall. We experience turmoil and uncertainty every day. No one has been protected from calamity. We have all suffered.

Jeremiah 25:32, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, evil is going forth from nation to nation, and a great storm is being stirred up from the remotest parts of the earth."
God’s Storm
Ezekiel 38:9, "You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you."

We are the storm. With the power of God, it is we that fate must withstand. We rage against all things, not of God. God gives us stamina, discernment, patience, wisdom, and power to overcome the world. When we see the tsunami of life building on the distant horizon, we should turn to God. What will hit our shore may be a gentle wave or a rough sea, but never a tsunami.

James 1:6, "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

We must calm ourselves, look fate directly in the eyes, and whisper, “I AM THE STORM.” I am God’s chosen. I am unstoppable. There is no need to blare and bluster. 

Job 30:22, "You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride, And You dissolve me in a storm."

Fear not, for God is with you.

Psalm 18:30, "What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him."
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A Fine Line Between Humble and Insecure

There is a fine line between humble and insecure. That line sometimes is almost invisible. God calls us to be humble but not insecure. I sometimes struggle with this. I don’t always know when I cross the line between humility and insecurity.

Proverbs 27:2, "Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."

Humility

Everything you will ever possess, whether wealth, intelligence, influence, experiences, or relationships, is intricately woven into God’s grand design for your life. This divine plan extends even to the disappointments, struggles, detours, and dead ends you may encounter. Some of these obstacles result from our actions, requiring God’s rescue, while others serve as valuable lessons that contribute to our future. God reigns supreme over all circumstances.

We must understand that God loves us unconditionally, and His purpose for our life, encompassing all our imperfections, forms the very foundation of our existence. I consider myself fortunate to have had a father who consistently instilled humility in me. Despite his remarkable achievements, including receiving two Bronze Stars for his service as a seaman in World War Two, serving as the Superintendent of Highways, President of the City Council, and President of the School Board, he always emphasized humility.

I vividly recall a particular morning, as I was leaving for grade school and my father was heading to work when the garbage collector made his rounds on our street. My dad pointed toward him and asked me why the garbage collector didn’t have the same occupation as him. Dad’s response was simple: he had chosen his path, just as every individual can achieve great things by following their chosen pursuits. It’s worth noting that, in our small town, the garbage collector was highly respected and a shrewd businessman. His son even became a lawyer, serving the local community to this day.

Proverbs 30:7-9, "Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God."

Insecurity

When is it that we cross the line between humble and insecure? We all do it at times. Mostly it happens when we start to compare ourselves to others. Rarely do we look at those less influential and take pride in our accomplishments; instead, we tend to fixate on those who are more influential, using them as a yardstick to gauge what we should do differently. When we fixate on others, we create a faults narrative. God uniquely created each of us for the specific plan He has for us. No two of us are created the same or have the same plan; comparison is irrelevant.

Even with this knowledge, I falter. My weakness lies in feeling I am not making a difference. I harbor insecurities that stem from believing the work I do does not have value. Being introverted, overly logical (sometimes to a fault), and exceedingly pragmatic contributes to this perception. I genuinely dislike—and that’s not too strong of a word—talking about myself. I cringe when someone says, “Tell me about yourself.” What I cherish about myself is my ordinariness. Sometimes, I mistake being common for falling short, being unworthy, or believing I do not have significance. But these are falsehoods. God uniquely crafted me as His child, perfectly designed for the great future He has in store for me.

Luke 12:6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

I lose sight of that; forgetting that God cherishes me for being who I am. I have people who love me and care about me; I struggle to recognize it because of my insecurity. The world I paint is not the world that exists.

Life

Francis Chan, in his book “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God” states, ‎”Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” He says, “We never grow closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.”

Our actual value lies in looking beyond ourselves. When we dedicate our lives to serving God’s people, we no longer define our worth solely based on our perceptions but on its significance to Him. Through service, humility naturally emerges as a byproduct. There is no room for insecurity or competition when the outcome rests solely in God’s hands.

Regi Campbell’s book “Radical Wisdom,” says, “Turn your knob to humble and watch as people are drawn to you, want to help you, have empathy for you and your situation.”

Humility harbors strength within. It exhibits confidence in who God has created us to be. It radiates an aura of invincibility, unaffected by the opinions of others. Others consider a humble individual confident in the face of adversity, holding authority over their circumstances without exerting power over others.

Insecurity is a product of our perception of a worldly view; it has no place in God’s world.

“When I am consumed by my problems, stressed out about my life, my family, and my job, I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command always to rejoice.” ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

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Loving Ourselves

Our close friends are our close friends because we see their strengths. We know they have weaknesses, but they are overshadowed by what we see as gifts and skills that we admire. When asked, we help them build up their faults, but mostly we overlook them for the sake of our friendship. They bring light and joy to our lives despite minor flaws.

We are far more critical of ourselves. We rationalize that our strengths are common and our weaknesses are glaring; to doubt yourself is to be human.

It is easy for us to struggle with our weaknesses, our frustration with our sin, and our lack of focus on Christ. We become our own worst critics. We need to remember that God created us and understands our weaknesses. He understands that we will falter.

Psalm 103: 13-14, “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are”

Life is full of pressure to excel. We have conflicting roles as parent, child, sibling, provider, mentor, and friend. Many of us are someone’s child, someone’s sibling, and someone’s parent at the same time. We are a provider at work and home. We play roles as the mentor and friend and sometimes the disciplinarian to the same people. In all of these things, we want to do our best. But we are mere mortals with limited capacity.

Ecclesiastes 3:20, “Both go to the same place—they came from dust, and they return to dust.”

We need to rise above self-condemnation. We need to find a way to replay the tapes of our victories over the sound of our defeats. God does that; God rejoices when we obey. God delights when we overcome. God wants us to live a life worth living, not a life filled with regret and remorse. When we turn from God, God does not turn from us.

Romans 3:3, “What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief would not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?”

SATAN LOVES DOUBT

One of Satan’s most effective tools to keep us distant from Christ is self-doubt. Satan knows we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He uses that knowledge to his advantage. He knows many of us will see through this attempt to vilify our existence, so he takes a more circuitous route; he magnifies our flaws until they overshadow our strengths. The Grand Canyon was created through millions of years of erosion, don’t let slight imperfections create vast chasms in your faith.

Corinthians 11:14, “ And no wonder! For Satan, himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”

He does not lead us to outright self-condemnation, just self-incrimination. He tells us God forgives sin if we truly repent and turn from our ways, but we aren’t doing that, are we? Are we turning from our sinful ways? If we are truly repentant, why do we still sin? Other people are doing a better job of it than we are. Other people have their act together. God is not happy with our effort. We create separation from God.

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Stop letting this broken world get inside your head and dictate your existence. Stop comparing yourself to others around you. Instead, compare yourself to the person Christ has always wanted you to be. He created you to be that person. You have everything you need to achieve it. It won’t be the same as anyone around you. You are unique in this world; embrace that uniqueness. Although time and again, you will fall short or fail, that is the by-product of living in a broken world. It does not define the person God made you.

What will distance you from Christ is not your sin; it is the thought that your sin will separate you from Christ. Your decision to dwell on your shortcomings is the differentiator, not the shortcomings. Everyone is created uniquely for a specific purpose. Comparing your purpose with someone else’s purpose is meaningless. Embrace your moment, rest in the assurance that you and you alone were created for it; no one can be a better you.

Esther 4:14, “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.”

TURN THE TIDE

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Whenever negative thoughts creep into your head, change directions. We all have a laundry list of good qualities, many we take for granted. If a list of good qualities is hard to remember, write them down. Keep adding to the list as new things come to mind. Soon you will start to see you as God sees you, beautifully and wonderfully made.

Psalms 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

C.S Lewis says in Mere Christianity: “Aim at Heaven, and you will get the earth thrown in: aim at earth, and you will get neither.” Focus on the great attributes given to you by God, and joy, peace, and contentment will be yours. Focus on being what the world defines, and you will lose your salvation along with joy, peace, and contentment.

1 Samuel 16:7, “… The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

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