Overcoming the Storms of Life # 6: The "working together for good" part of storms -- one more example!
Mothers of Nations, in today’s blog entry let’s look at a final example of how God can use storms to work all things together for our good. Have you noticed in your own life that the storms you walk through can reinforce that Jesus is our refuge?
I believe that the Word of God and the Presence of Jesus Himself are our greatest refuge in the midst of storms. In John 16:33 (ESV) Jesus says, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Here Jesus is telling His disciples there is no doubt that they will experience trials and storms in life. However, He also promises them that He is more powerful than anything they will face. Anything.
He has overcome all things and Christ “the Overcomer” lives in us!
Think about your own life right now. How has the Lord been your refuge in the midst of storms? Let me briefly share how Jesus became my refuge during a “hurricane of health assault” I experienced in the fall of 2011.
I served as a church ministry administrator for over twenty years. One afternoon I was sitting at my desk and working on mission trip outreach plans. All of a sudden my head started swirling and something was wrong with my hearing and my vision. The dizziness I was experiencing was something I had never felt before.
Two other staff members were in the building but not in my office at that time. I remember so vividly closing my eyes tightly, trying to stop the dizziness, and then doing the only thing I could think of at that time. I simply spoke out loud, “Jesus, help me!”
Mothers of Nations, when we are in the initial moments of crisis, shocked and literally blindsided by circumstances, it is interesting to note how we respond. At that moment, I had no idea what was happening to me but I am grateful that my spirit was trained and alert to respond with prayer, as simple as it was!
Out of the abundance of my heart, my mouth spoke words that reached out to the Lord. (Matthew 12:34) In retrospect, I saw that day the huge importance of growing and training our spirits over a lifetime so that when crisis hits, our spirit man is strong to rise up when our flesh and soul are weak and don’t know what to do.
Moments after I prayed “Jesus help me!” one of our staff members walked into my office to post some mail and instantly realized that I was in trouble. He took my pulse and advised that he immediately call an ambulance. Within thirty minutes I was in the emergency room of one of our largest hospitals in the metro area.
After multiple scans and tests, results showed that I had experienced a stroke. Yes, that’s right, as I was planning ministry outreach and doing “the Lord’s work,” my physical body was going through one of the worst storms I had ever faced in my life. And yet, from the moment I whispered, “Jesus, help me!” I continually recognized that He was with me. He was my refuge in this time of storm!
In the ER two doctors were “randomly” assigned to me before any test results were received. My designated cardiologist just “happened” to be a seasoned doctor who had ten years earlier invented a very successful procedure for closing “holes” in hearts. And guess what my test results indicated? That’s right, I had a congenital hole in my heart and several blood clots had slipped through that hole and hit my brain as I sat in my ministry office. Coincidence? Of course not. God gave me refuge and comfort knowing that I had the best doctor for my storm situation!
I was admitted into the hospital and was given the most excellent attention and care I could hope for. Yes, I was experiencing post-stroke symptoms, but not the severe outward physical symptoms that most people work through after the type of stroke I had. My neurologist was amazed that I did not require any therapy after my two-day stay in the heart unit. No physical therapy. No occupational therapy. No speech therapy. I later came to realize that in so many ways, I had experienced multiple miracles during this traumatic health hurricane.
One thing I learned through this storm is that there can be a “loneliness” we feel as we face the minute by minute status of our physical body. People can express their care and concern, yet we are individually living 24/7 the moment by moment symptoms that come our way. This reality is where I truly learned about the ever-present refuge of Jesus and the comfort of Holy Spirit as I navigated my personal situation.
It is now more than a decade since I weathered this health hurricane and without a doubt I know that I know Jesus is the “eye of the hurricane,” my always present refuge and comfort in any storm I face.
Rev. Nola Beintema
