Storms..They come in many forms, they could be figurative or literal, spiritual or physical, short or long-lasting, and we are all faced with many throughout our lives. Lately, the idea of storms has been ever present in my mind, and I’ve been continually reminded that how you react during the storm is vitally important. I’ve experienced my own share of storms in different fashions. On the external side: I live in hurricane alley, my hometown has experienced major tornadoes repeatedly, and lately, flooding seems to have been a constant issue. Internally, the storm inside my own heart and mind is what led to me sitting here in Bangkok, Thailand writing this blog. While it may potentially be one of the hardest things to do, remaining calm in the storm will almost always help you through whatever storm you are facing.
The world, at home and abroad, seems to be full of turbulence lately. While the majority of racers have remained healthy, multiple squads from our launch window, including my own, have seen racers go home for health concerns during the last few months. Our families back home seem to be suffering from illness and loss constantly. Every bit of this is heartbreaking, and seeing the hurt in my brothers and sisters eyes is gut-wrenching. All around the world COVID-19 is setting off alarms as I’m sure we are all aware of by now, and Flu season is doing it’s regular destruction. More than ever it seems like we are all sharing some level of turmoil, while still weathering our own personal storms. How we decide to react, and where we decide to find calmness during these storms is of vital importance. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this month the Father has been preaching calmness to me, and the biggest lesson I have been getting this month is “where is my calmness found”. Repeatedly in the Bible we are told to give our worries and troubles to God, to trust He is big enough to handle our issues, and to run to the Father! When we find our calmness in the Father we are given that peace that passes all understanding at times, but when we try to find our own outlets for calmness we usually end up with false ideas of happiness and security. My squad is now about to wrap up month eight, meaning we have about three months before we return home and for many the thought of what comes next is a heavy burden. I am the type of person who for sure wants to have options, a plan, or something to fall back to when I get home. However, God has constantly been reminding me that I am here because this is where He wanted me, and if I was willing to trust Him with these eleven months of my life, why not trust Him with what comes next? It may be the most popular question from squad-mates and people at home, “what are you doing after the race?” I always laugh a little bit before answering, “I have no idea!” While that answer would have filled me with anxiety months ago, I consider it a victory now. The Father will provide, and the calmness about my future He has given me in this season astounds me.
While we share some of these more global storms, I’m not sure what most of you reading may be experiencing on a personal level. To echo Psalms 107:28-3, I would encourage you to let the Father be your calmness in the storm. No matter how big the storms we experience, I know our God is bigger!
Bowen
