It rained along the Oregon Coast.
Oregonians . . . true Oregonians . . . are not deterred by rain storms.
As a family, we consider ourselves to be true Oregonians . . . so we walked together in the sideways rain and the blowing wind,
enjoying the sight of the clouds hugging the mountains and the crashing waves of the gray sea disappearing into the gray stormy skies.
We walked together and watched the seagulls become stuck in the air as the wind pushed back on their attempts to fly and observed the pelicans weathering the storm by standing alone in some of the inland pools of water.
We enjoyed the storm . . . because we were together.
The thing is . . . Oregonians know that the storm will end . . . and the day will be new.
How do we survive the storms in our life?
A storm was brewing . . . individuals planned to arrest Jesus and stop Him.
Jesus began to tell the people that there was something more that would occur,
facing a crowd that could not have possibly imagined the powerful moment that God had planned for the world . . . that would change life for all of humanity:
Therefore Jesus said, For a little while I am [still] with you, and then I go back to Him Who sent Me. You will look for Me, but you will not [be able to] find Me; where I am, you cannot come.(John 7:33-34, Amplified)
Jesus promised there was not any reason to fear . . . there was a plan put into place:
DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. (John 14:1, Amplified)
Jesus promised that humanity would not need to be alone:
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--
The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.(John 14:16-17, Amplified)
There was a purpose to the plan . . . Jesus prayed:
And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].(John 17:13, Amplified)
Jesus broke through the power of the storms for all of humanity.
Regardless of the power of the storm that comes into our life,
we do not need to be troubled, distressed, or agitated . . .
because we have the Friend that will walk through the storms with us . . .
the Spirit of God . . .
and through it all . . .
a new work is being done . . .
that completes who we are . . .
creating peace and producing joy.
Walk through the storms of life
with the Friend . . . Who
makes all things new.
Learning with you to walk with Christ,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2009 All Rights Reserved)
