You know how sometimes life is going hecka great and you’re thinking wow nothing can bring me down. Then you start thinking about it longer and you’re like hold up life is going so good, does this mean that something is about to wreck my world. Yes, that answer is yes for me. Not always but man this past week has shaken me and broken me down to the bottom of the bottom.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 says “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future”
There will be bad and good seasons of life, always. We live in a world where there is evil and hurt. Because of this, the bad seasons of life and the hard storms are going to come sweeping in at some point. As a believer, though, I am built on a firm foundation, the rock I call my savior, which cannot be shaken in the time that I watch the world around me crumble. A firm foundation in Christ is necessary because life isn’t peachy all of the time. If our feet were planted in ground that was rocky and unstable, in a small gust of wind, we would be broken down instantly. He, Jesus, laid his life down for us. He laid down for us to stand upon Him, because he is the solid ground in which the righteous rests on.
Here’s the deal. Just a Jesus is sturdy and unwavering, so is the cross. Planted firmly in the ground, the ultimate symbol of sacrifice literally never moves. It’s so strong and unbreakable just how Christ is. As the cross is solid in the ground, Christ is just as solid in our hearts. He never leaves. He never runs away. His unceasing love is reflected perfectly in the cross. Knowing the Gospel and being a believer is knowing that Jesus is never fleeing, never failing, and perfect in every single way. We are sinners because He is perfect. We are weak because he is strong. We are firm in our beliefs because the cross that our savor died on is deep in the ground and never moving.
During these storms of life that seem like they’re going to break us any second is the time to cling to Jesus so tightly. There was a literal storm that broke and the disciples ran crazy. They feared for their lives and cried out. Jesus said hold up peeps, why are you scared. You know that I am the protector and provider. I will keep you safe in times of need and when the waves are huge. He calmed the storms instantly and with such power. But see the thing here is that sometimes we just expect Jesus to show and fix every little thing that wrong. Now, he would love to do that but that’s not how it works. He wants us to cry out to him, to need him, ask him to show up big. He knows that desires of our hearts more than we even know, but without saying “Jesus this is what’s up”, he’s going to wait patiently for us to give those things up to him. Christ knows when a storm is going to hit, he’s got it all figured it, but when they do come guns ablazin’, this is the time to fall on our needs and say “Lord, I need you.”
It’s easy for us to only shout the father’s name in desperate times. We can’t though. Yes we need to ask him for help, but we also need to praise his name for all the good things. It’s so easy for me to put God in a little box, only to pull off the shelf when the storms are brewing. When life is sunshine and roses, I can forget about the shelf entirely and not even think that Jesus is providing me what he is. Boy oh boy though, he is sufficient and gracious and that’s why life is beautiful in those moments. He wants us to praise him for all, good and bad, and tell him he’s a good good father.
Let’s recognize that storms will most definitely come. Jesus will protect all through that if we ask him and desire him to help because he wants to like crazy. Hard times are used for Jesus to tell us that he’s in control and we need to lean on him. We also need to praise his name for those great times when we’re on cloud nine.
Jesus is merciful, beautiful, loving, and powerful. He’s got us in his hand and is doing everything for the glory of his kingdom. Rest, listen, respond in diligence and worship. God is good.
In Him,
Erin “Gilly” Gillen
