I had been given divine strategy from the LORD to stay home from work on Monday. Everyone was going to be out of the house so it would allow me to rest, clean, work, get things in order, and pray. I was trying to get everything ready: kids backpacks packed with extra items to cover any potential emergency, clothes ready and laid out, I had it covered. So I thought. As everyone is getting ready to leave, the power goes out. Now what was interesting about this moment is that it had stormed the day prior (a severe thunderstorm) yet our power remained on. But the moment we were loading up cars, the power goes out. I instantly went into problem solving mode, looking up outages times, etc. I then went into a slight panic because it felt like my precious retreat day was being threatened. My mind raced with thoughts of what should have been done to prevent this. I should have opened the garage door earlier so we could get out, we should have gotten the manual opener repaired months ago, we should have left sooner, on and on….I ended up on the floor, crying. While this may seem ridiculous, I had been yearning for this time. My soul was in need of this remedy and I felt like my answer had been dangled in front of me and then snatched away.
My loving husband came in our room and said, “the electricity will come back on.” I shared with him that I was staying home for the day under GODLY advisement and that I believed this was adversarial. My kind husband looked at me and said, “Have faith.” I don’t think he even understood the magnitude of those words.
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:18, 23-26 NLT
What can this story above teach me about today’s power outage and many other storms that happen in life: GOD’s word and command are true. HE will provide everything HE said HE would. But know that the adversary is trying to combat the work of the LORD. In this passage of scripture, the LORD already gave instructions. The storm did not change GOD’s mind or plans. So much so that JESUS goes to sleep. When He wakes up, HE rebukes it. Whether we ride out the storm or rebuke the storm, we must remain steadfast that what we believe and what GOD says will happen and HIS plans haven’t changed.
What situation do you have where you may need to be reminded that GOD said what HE said! Therefore, it WILL happen regardless of what it looks like.