Finding Hope in Life’s Storms
Hey friend,
So, um, about yesterday. I realized that I deleted the most important part when I edited! I deleted the actual prayer of Jabez. I feel a lot like Homer Simpson right now. (Doh!) So, in case you didn’t have a chance to read it for yourself, or, if like me, you just need to silently whisper his prayer underneath your breath, here you go!
“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10, NKJV).
He wanted to be kept from evil so that he wouldn’t cause pain. And doesn’t it make sense that he was called honorable? I still can’t shake it. Poor Jabez. But there are still lessons in that. However, that’s another story for another day. I’m praying that you and I are also kept from evil so that we might not cause pain, even, and especially in the midst of our own. Have you heard it said that “Hurting people hurt people.” Let’s not be like them, ya? Don’t be that guy. Or gal. “Don’t do it girl, it’s not worth it.”
Today, there were a couple of things that stuck out to me. But mostly, the hopelessness of being caught in a storm. I love that the Bible is so relatable. Acts 27:1-20 describes the danger of the storm. “So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive” (Acts 27:15, NKJV). So, what you’re saying is, you took your hands off the wheel? “What do you mean you let the wind drive?! Are you crazy?” Do you ever feel like that? At times, you might, at least I know I do. And I don’t mean it in the cute, “Jesus take the wheel” kinda way. I mean it as like when the wind and waves are so big you know that your only chance of surviving is to take a deep breath, and head as far down towards the ocean floor as possible, until the storm has passed…
But they’re not passing. Nothing’s happening! The waves, they just keep coming. Such are the storms of life that, at times, can cause me to throw my arms up in defeat. I imagine sitting on that ship with Paul and the rest of the prisoners. Because sometimes, that’s how it feels. Like I’m held captive, in prison, caught in a storm, and utterly helpless. And spoiler alert, hopeless. “Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up” (Acts 27:20, NKJV).
They gave up hope. And that makes me feel as though if I were to lock eyes with Paul in this moment, that we would exchange a knowing look. “See you on the other side.” I love God, and I trust him. But sometimes, it’s so dark that all hope of being saved is just given up. It just flatlines. Done. Gone. Finito. Never to be seen or heard from again. Logic kicks in; he never promised that we wouldn’t encounter pain. But I do know that he promises to be in it. And that is comforting. Just as quickly as the thought occurred, I could faintly hear the little “beep, beep” of the machines in the hospital that indicate life.
“The Lord shall judge the peoples, Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:8-11, NKJV).
“He establishes the just. Our defense is of God. He saves the upright in heart.” “Alright, Alright,” said in my best impersonation of Matthew McConaughey, but he also tests our hearts and minds. Oh. About that. Instantly deflated. See, what had happened was… this is the part that I would like to fast-forward through.
He tests the righteous.
Can I be honest? This test sucks! Did we get the same one? Is your test easy? Can I ask for another one?
I’m waiting for words that I swear could never sound so beautiful.
“Ok, everyone! Time’s up! Flip over your paper, and put your pencils down.”
Every test has a limit,
iK
P.S. If you want to follow along with me, below is an affiliate link to the one-year Bible I am using.