The Calm Before The Storm?

You know the expression; "the calm before the storm". Before a storm hits everything gets real calm. All the birds stop chirping and the squirrels are all up the trees. And for once everything is real still. But in the storm of life there's no calm... In less than ten weeks I leave for Cambodia. And it feels like everything is crashing down around me. So much for the calm before the storm.

This week my car sprung a radiator leek. A rash broke out on my arms, and I'm freaking out about not being able to raise enough money for my trip. My car needs an oil change. And gas is $3.90 a gallon. I don't have the money for all this!! I'm freaking out! Oh, and the breaks on my car are scrapping (maybe I just need a new car...). I can't sleep well at night, and I'm freaking out about leaving the country! To sum it all up; I'm freaking out.

The storms of life are unavoidable.  Its how we react when storm arises that can, and will change our lives.  We can curl up under the blankets and hide praying for the storm to pass.  We can choose to ignore it, and hope others don't notice our pain.  Or we can take shelter in the Love of Jesus.  Psalm 89:2 says, "I will declare that Your love stands firm forever..."  And when we fall in to the slimy pit of life, He will set our feet on solid ground. (Psalm 40:2).

So, as these Storms keep pounding me, and the stresses of life press in around me.  I will take shelter in the one who can calm the storm, tell the birds to pack up for the winter, and give new life to earth.  I pray, as the time for me to leave draws ever closer, that these storms will pass and all will be calm.  That His plan for me will be so clear, that I will run to do His will.

The warm up

All good athletes know that doing a warm up before your event is critical.  A good warm up will keep your muscles loose, and wake them up getting your body ready to go.   But you can't just start five minutes before your run and hope it all works out.  No, a good athlete knows that they should start warming up 20-30 minutes before hand.  In spending that time warming up it will allow them to perform at their best; casting aside their tight muscles and other things that might slow them down.  I may no longer be an athlete in real life but I am still running a race.  "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  Hebrews 12:1

For months I have been planning on running where God has called me, Cambodia.  In a few short months I will be spending my entire summer in a culture I know nothing about.  I won't be going with anyone, I have never met any of the people that I will be meeting there.  So I too will warm up for my race.  I have done my research, and now I am starting to raise funds to help offset the cost.  But much like the athlete that runs the race, I will be nervous until the end result.

Questions and doubts keep flashing through my mind. "How will they find me at the airport?"  "What if I can't raise the funds?" And many other questions.  However I have faith that Jesus will give me the strength to make it through these, and I will press on with perseverance.  Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight."  With this verse in mind I know that He will have my back even as I travel alone into land unknown to me.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11  He knows what is planned for me.  I will put my trust in Him and lean on His understanding.  I will run the race he has marked out for me.  I would call that a pretty good warm up.  I can't wait to see the end result.