Head For The Storm Cellar

My life these past few months have been a whirlwind of "newness." Since January my job has changed. I founded a new ministry and started this website. I released my seventh book, that hit #1 in its category on the first day. I've moved to a new place. My baby girl started school. New relationships have blossomed, others have been restored, while others crumbled. And finally, I am launching a new initiative that has grabbed a hold of my heart and has kept me busy. That is A LOT of new to take in, in such a short amount of time. Needless to say, it hasn't all been a smooth transition and I've hit hard bump after hard bump along the way.

It took many bumps before I made the conscious effort to grab ahold of the Rock that remained steadfast during these twisters of life. I wish I could tell you I am a fast learner and from the first pivotal moment of grabbing ahold of Christ in crisis over a decade ago, I have gracefully and maturely stood firmly upon that Rock as life spun around me, storm after storm. Unfortunately, I haven't. Time after time I have failed at going to the Rock first when sirens begin to sound, alerting me to danger. A deficiency I find, I share with many believers.

Blessedly, while I am slow-starter during those tornadoes, I eventually do end up in the safety of God's shelter, even if my hair is completely windblown by the time I get there. I trudge to get to that "storm cellar" of safety when the winds pick up, the impending disaster not far off. And because I have been called to encourage others, I find myself stopping in the middle of storms to point out the cellar to others, sometimes trying to carry them there. I have learned the hard way, you can't carry a person to safety who is choosing to stand in the twister screaming for help, rather than moving toward shelter, no matter how much I try to encourage or lead the way.

On route to that safety, the enemy will hurl all kinds of things at me so that I can duck and take cover. Anything to distract me and keep me from reaching the shelter of Christ. While I am hiding behind objects that, by appearances sake, seemed unmoved by the strong winds (mature Christian friends, support groups, family, and other support) I feel a false measure of safety, delaying my need to reach the storm cellar in a hurry. Up until that shield from the storm gives way because it was never intended to be my safe haven in the first place, and realization sets in, again, that I am only truly secure in the shadow of the Most High.

By then, the storm has gained in intensity and merely walking the path to the ONLY safe place, has become increasingly difficult. The winds are howling so loudly, voices of comfort are lost among the chaos. They are blowing so fiercely, I have to shield my eyes to keep "debris" from affecting how and what I see, making it difficult to see the light that illuminates the way. Temptation, bitterness, depression, fear, and quitting are urging me to lay on the ground rather than take one more step forward against the push of wind forces.

More times than I care to count, I have crawled to that "storm cellar" seeking refuge. Not enough times, I ran there at the first sound of the siren. Yet I am here today because I have always eventually made it there, whether I sprinted, walked or crawled.

It is my calling to always point the way for others to find their way to safety. Funny enough, this post is me waving you toward refuge as your winds are beginning to blow, picking up in intensity or fiercely circling you. Either way, I want to encourage you to run at the sound of the siren blaring, remove yourself from behind the false shield, and rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Enter the storm cellar with confidence that no matter what's flying around right before your eyes and how loud the winds roar, you are safe with our Savior.

The storms of life are going to surround you with thoughts of giving up or giving in. The idea of just laying on the ground convinced that the storm is too strong to overcome will be tempting. To duck and take cover.  You will want to seek refuge in the seemingly steady shield that soon enough will sway and move when the storm gets close enough to it. Sooner or later, we all realize that survival is dependent solely upon the "Storm Cellar" and it won't be easy to get there. I can't promise your hair won't be a mess once you get there, but I can promise you that you once you get up, push forward and find refuge, you won't regret it. You'll wonder why you didn't run to it at the first sign of trouble. 

God’s name is a place of protection— good people can run there and be safe.
Proverbs 18:10 MSG