Calm the Storm

One question that I am asked as a pastor is “if I am a Christian, why does life still hurt?”  Every time I hear this question my heart breaks.  I know that people don’t ask this question just to start up a conversation, but because they are hurting, or maybe someone around them is hurting.  Either way, the fixer/healer part of my personality and faith want to be able to fix it right then and there.  I don’t like watching people hurt and walk through difficult times in their lives because I know it is hard and I don’t want them to have to go through that.

I often wish there was something I could say that would make it all go away.  I wish there was a prayer I could pray that would automatically make everything right again.  Having walked down this road with many others, and having walked it myself, I know that there is no easy fix.  Sometimes we have to walk through the tough times, the dark days, for a whole variety of reasons we don’t understand while we are going through it.  There have been days when I have shook my fist at God and said “God, you better  be ready to turn this into something beautiful because I don’t see it, and even though I know You can I don’t see how.”

I am a huge fan of Christian music, which is probably not a surprise.  I love how there are songs that are able to speak God’s truth into difficult situations, and this is one of them.  This song is by Scott Krippayne and it is called Sometimes He Calms the Storm. 

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

This song is a beautiful reminder that even though we may not always understand why there are dark days and trials, God does.  God is still sovereign and in control.  God is still walking with us every step of every day.  No matter what we are going through, nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love Christ.  Hold tight to Christ, and know that He is holding tight to you!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35, 37-39

God bless, Liz Arakelian, www.LivingHopeEC.org