Standing Firm in 2020
I once had the luxury to see a light house standing solid in the midst of a storm. So strong was the storm that as the wind blew, and the waves smashed against the light house, I was convinced that the structure would falter and fall to the pressures of the storm. The combination of the rain and waves had convinced me that it was only a matter of time, the howling of the wind wrapped a sense of dread in the air that crept into my very bones. However, the light house still shown its light and stood in the presence of all that would bring it down. Hours went by and the storm continued to press. The following morning as the clouds parted and the sun came out, I saw the light house still standing. I had heard stories, I had seen photos, but to see it in person was an entirely different matter.
Today we find ourselves in a similar circumstance. We have read the stories of those who waited on the Lord, those who listened to the Lord all while being in a situation like the storm. Yet, to live through it is entirely different. To see the rain pelt, and to feel the waves smash and hear the wind blow is something different.
November 2020, we have felt our own storm, and much like the light house we are seeing those who are established correctly vs those who would be washed away. Psalm 34:4-7 states,
“I sought the Lord and He answered me,
And rescued me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them."
Those who seek the Lord will be established during the storm. I have seen many Christians utterly give up from the rain, waves, and wind of 2020. Others I have seen become unhinged and join the storm to which we find ourselves in. Yet others I have seen stand firm in the Lord and have leaned on the Word of God. They sought the Lord and knew He would answer. They know Jesus will rescue. They look confidently for Jesus and found themselves transformed out of the storm into something that is beyond this world. From being a wretched, poor, and miserable person full of fear and pain, to someone who is given the joy of the Lord. Those who fully come to understand this find themselves knowing the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, they know He is close and will rescue them. David knew this as he wrote Psalm 34. We can see in verse 15 David wrote, “the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.” We see just two verses later that He will deliver us, “the righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Now I am not saying that we will have the outcome of 2020 as we would want, but what I am saying is we are being looked at by the outside world and they are seeing if we will falter during the storm.
For us today, we need more than ever to turn off the news and seek the Lord. This does not mean neglect our obligations, but we need to hand our fear, our doubt, and our trepidation over to the Lord. I have found Psalm 27:11-14 a great reminder on what we should be doing.
“Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;”
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.”
So, remember that as the storm of 2020 is upon us, we can either stand firm in the Lord or we can falter and flee from the safety that is the light house. We can listen to worldly elements that would have us believe that fleeing would lead us to safety, but in reality we are running away from our only security and right into the storm that wants to blow us away.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL