Just Do It Wet
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“My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.” ‘James 1:2-3
The sun was shining. It was a beautiful fall week in Ohio, but I was in Florida with clouds, rain and a looming tropical storm. The vacation was planned months ago to spend a week enjoying the sunshine and resting on the beach. I even prayed for God to bless the week with sunshine.
God did not take away the storm, the rain or even the clouds. We had moments of sunshine a couple of days. We still biked in the rain. Walked and ran in the rain. Sat on the beach in the winds and among the clouds. Never saw the sunrise or the sunset because of all the clouds. But God is still good. God was still faithful. God still met my needs but not my wants.
My expectations were not met. I was disappointed. I wallowed for a moment or more. I could not change the weather, but I could change my attitude and how I was going to deal with my vacation. I had a choice – be miserable and grumble or thank God for clouds and His presence and make the most of it. We even had to cut short our trip because of being evacuated for the coming hurricane. Good still came in the midst of the storm. Friends took us to dinner and also to the airport. As I write this, I am sitting in the airport awaiting my flight in four hours hoping we get out before the airport closes. I am pondering what is God teaching me? Here are some of my random thoughts.
Simply, you cannot base your life or your happiness on the weather. It will always change. The weather will not change just because you want it to or ask God to change it. You need to change your plans or just do it in the rain, get wet and enjoy the adventure. The weather can affect your attitude. It is not giving power to the weather, but accepting whatever the weather is you are still going to live life fully and abundantly.
You can be miserable, grumble, and complain and believe nothing in life is good and nothing ever turns out good for you. Something always happens. Maybe it does rain on your beach vacation again and again, but it is a privilege and luxury even to have a vacation. One event may have not turned out how you wanted it to, but it does not mean all of life will go wrong. Separate events. Do not lump everything together. Life happens. It rains, but the sun also shines.
Make the most of each situation. I slept more. Rested. Had long conversations. Shared memories. Had no worries. Enjoyed the sound of the rain. Watched the clouds. Savored the good food. Watched the waves and the children who still played in the sand and waves and the joy on their faces and their laughter. I had to change my purpose. My purpose was not to rest in the sunshine and get a tan. My purpose was to find God moments in the moments of the experience.
How do you prepare for the storms of life? Yes, we physically prepare. I watched the beach town prepare – bringing in chairs, taking down umbrellas, putting on hurricane shutters, and securing all the outside equipment. But how do you prepare emotionally and spiritually for the storms of life? Do you pray and tell God what you want? “Lord, take me out of this storm.” We usually pray for what we want to happen. We tend to tell God what we want Him to do instead of listening to what God has for us. God may have other plans or decide to walk with us through the storm.
We do not like the storms of life. Storms usually come unexpectedly – loss, grief, family situations, hurts, illnesses, diseases, fire, tornadoes. Some we can prepare for – hurricanes, surgeries. You may not be able to prepare or even if you do, you cannot take away the storm that is coming. God promises to be with us even when we do not feel His presence.
The storm may drench you like the rains on my vacation. Do you give up and see life as against you? Do you wallow in the mud or do you dance in the rain? It does not mean you love the storm, it just means you are trying to live in the midst of it.
Give yourself permission to cry, be angry, and wonder why me and why now? Weep over what you had hoped life would be. Feel the pain. Acknowledge the hurt. Then turn around and turn to Jesus. Change your focus from yourself and what you want or even think you deserve because you are a Christian and embrace the life you now have after the storm.
The storms of life produce consequences, clean up, and changes that you have no instructions on what to do. There may be damage, emptiness, brokenness, and uncertainty. Remember, no matter what valley or storm you go through, God is with you. He will lead us to a place of quiet even in the midst of the chaos and restore our soul.
Getting wet cleanses us. It cleanses us from wanting our own way and trying to tell God what to do. It cleanses us to focus on what really matters and who is really in control. Sometimes you just have to do it wet!
Elaine J. Sturtz
