How Can We Lie Down in Green Pastures? They're Flooded

One of my go-to scriptures, especially when I’m encouraging someone who is bed-fast because of an injury or illness, is Psalm 23:1-3 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” I share: “Obviously, God is wanting you to rest and lie down in His pastures (His place of restoration) so you can re-coup, be restored and refreshed. He knows your journey up ahead, and He knows what you need to go the long-haul.”

But, how can I say that to my family and friends in Oklahoma whose pastures are filled with rushing (not still) waters and even their homes are completely demolished by the tornadoes and flood waters that left little to hold onto?

Or how can I tell them to “get on the roller coaster and throw your hands up in the air and enjoy the ride” like I might say when someone is starting a long journey of medical treatments and procedures? I often describe our faith journey as a roller coaster ride -- twists and turns, and ups and down, and throwing our hands up in the air and enjoying the ride!! But, in the case of these life-altering storms, those rides are out-of-order entirely!

It’s easy to say to my precious friends and family: “Let go and let God! He is in control. Have peace in the storm! Only have faith and believe. God is for you and with you!” But I’m not in my storm shelter, hearing the storm warnings or bailing water out of my home or trying to find something of value in the remains that were left behind from the storm. My words, of themselves, are meaningless. But God’s words are life and God is life….even abundant life -- when we believe them in or out of the storm.

“I Will Praise You in the Storm” was a song written by Casting Crowns’ lead vocalist Mark Hall. It was inspired by the band's experience with a young girl who had cancer, Erin Browning. They met Erin before one of their concerts. Erin had performed a dance at her school to one of their songs. Erin died shortly after that. Hall said, "Watching Erin's mother walk through this really showed me the truth about my worship. Watching her walk through a real storm showed me that my worship was extremely situational". Hall began writing the song before Erin's death.

I, too, know devastating storms in my own life and praising God in the midst of those storms was my survival mode. The song and the lyrics, I know, will minister to those of you who have gone through recent storms or are right in the middle of them today. No matter the storms, we continue to praise our Lord because we know His promises are true and that He never leaves us. We glory in all He does for us in the storm:

I Will Praise You in the Storm
I was sure by now, God you would have reached down
and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen; that it's still raining
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear your whisper through the rain, “I’m with you,”
And as your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands
That You are who You are, no matter where I am,
And every tear I've cried, You hold in your hand.
You never left my side, and though my heart is torn,
I will praise you in this storm.

Listen to this beautiful song and be assured that God is with you in the storm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqbKyeKOBI

While we may not know what our future holds, today we can rest in the fact that we are known by the One who holds it and somewhere in the middle of that fact…..He promises to be working it all out for our good. (Romans 8:28).

What's Your Story?

I attended an event where one of the men at our table told how he knew he had been touched by God two years' ago, and though he is still waiting for a liver transplant, he's telling his story to young people of how he abused his body with alcohol and medications. No doubt, his story of a tough road back then and now, will cause those young people to seriously consider the roads they're on.

We were so blessed by his story, but then as we talked and looked around our table, we realized that each, and every one of us, has a STORY of our own of how God's grace kept us, delivered us, spared us, healed us and restored us.

We realized that's why we have a STORY -- why God allows us to go through "stuff" so that we can share His love and faithfulness to others. We really are on the same road.....coming from all directions, but each of us are here to grab the hand of someone and help them through because "we've been there, too".

God's plans are always to use us to build each other's faith and trust in Him. I know I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say "Because of you, I didn't give up." Are you sharing YOUR story with others? Maybe yours is the one that will comfort, bless and encourage someone today!