A Friend and Her Pain

Last night the Italian Princess (you know her as Joelle) and I spent the evening having dinner in Lansing, MI with Beth and Amy.

Beth and Amy are sisters.

Amy was in my graduating class at Lansing Christian High and Beth, her sister was a few classes beneath us.

Amy was, in my memory, one of the sweetest girls in our class. Innocent and full of love for everyone.

Beth was a loudmouth, full of piss and vinegar child. “That ain’t no happy child” to quote Toy Story. I could never believe such a small human (she was tiny) could make so much noise.

Beth (as confessed last night) thought I was a real Jackass at the time. Of course, little has changed there.

Ultimately, Beth came to work for me while I was running my dad’s shop and became at that time one of the closest friends I would have and to this day remains so. Both women are like sisters to me and I love them dearly.

As we sat at dinner last evening, Joelle and I listened as Beth shared with us the terrible news of her daughter’s recent diagnosis of a horrifically terrifying disease, that should it manifest and come to full fruition will bring with it pain and agony for my friend Beth as she watches helplessly her daughters downward spiral.

Neither Beth nor Amy are new to such pain.

Both women have weathered their share of hurt and sorrow in this life.

Some, as in all of our cases, self inflicted. Some not.

As we talked and Joelle and I listened to the pain and fear gripping Beth with the recent diagnosis and it’s prognosis, we worked our way around to the various ways in which I have personally seen the Lord show up when life was dealing me pretty nasty times.

Over the course of my life, I have seen some pretty miserable episodes.

YET through each, as I was even reminded again last night, at every turn, in hindsight, I can look back and see where God showed up to ease the pain and provide comfort.

As we talked Beth shared, without even realizing it, the very same thing.

God’s hand working through her pain in the past to show his miraculous love and care.

Not coincidentally, then, did I find myself in Psalm 107.

This entire Psalm shows an ebb and flow of God’s willingness to show up and help us once we decide we’ve had enough and wish to seek his hand.

What I found wonderfully encouraging in this chapter is that in the various examples of this, in many cases, the people had turned their backs entirely on the Lord. Yet the moment they had had enough of their misery, the moment they were done running and turned to cry out to him…He reached down and helped.

This Psalm starts out with the most important verse, in my view, before citing examples of WHY the opening verse is so critical.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

His faithful love endures forever.

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!” Psalm 107:1-2

The chapter then cites example after example of a rebellious people, the pain they brought upon themselves, and then how the Lord in his love and mercy changed their circumstances and rescued them.

This, to me, is incredibly and wonderfully encouraging. It demonstrates that no matter what I’ve done or what you’ve done, all it takes is a 180. Recognize and own your mistakes, ask for his help, and HE WILL do so.

It may not be in a way you want, it may not be in a way you expect, but he will most certainly show up, provide relief, and help you deal with whatever storm you face while in the midst of it and may even bring a calm surpassing anything you can understand.

“He spoke, and the winds rose,

stirring up the waves.

Their ships were tossed to the heavens

The Raging Sea

and plunged again to the depths;

the sailors cringed in terror.

They reeled and staggered like drunkards

and were at their wits’ end.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

He calmed the storm to a whisper

and stilled the waves.

What a blessing was that stillness

as he brought them safely into harbor!

Let them praise the Lord for his great love

and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation

and before the leaders of the nation.” Psalm 107:25-32

Today, you may be going through such a storm. Like Beth, you may be afraid of the outcome. I challenge you, like I did her last night, remember the one who saves and owns it all.

Look back across the span of your own life and recall, remember, conjure up in your mind all the times in which He has shown up to provide for you the much needed relief you may have requested.

Better still, look deeply and try and find the times in which he helped and rescued you when you didn’t even know what or how to ask!

The Peace and Calm of the Early Morning Sun across Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

What our horrors and situations call for is NOT that we look at them in our terrified state and let them consume us, but if I read this Psalm correctly, we are to call out and cry out to him, admit we need his help and he will calm the storm. He will show up and let his glory shine.

When he does, we MUST share that story with others so his glory above all will be shown to everyone in earshot.

Today, my friend faces a terrifying storm. Please pray for her, as we will be, that she will find peace and hope in the God of wonders. Ask that as she turns to him, he will indeed give her the calm spirit and wise heart her daughter will need in the coming days, months or years.

This one, the “Force Is Strong with Her” to cite Yoda. She is a battle hardened warrior who has faced a series of hard times across her life. Like, I mean, really tough stuff. Job level in some instances. This, while exhausting her presently is yet another in a series of events she will face. But I know her and she will come out stronger on the other side (even though at present, she may not believe so).

In closing, let me say that we are fortunate in that we live on the other side of the resurrection and we have testimony of God, coming as man in Jesus Christ to demonstrate first hand his power over the storms we face.

“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” Mark 4:38-41

The one today who can and will calm our storms when we cry out as the disciples did while facing the above storm is the only one who can (and will) bring the peace and calm promised in Psalm 107.

He is good, merciful and gracious. He will calm your storm if you fully trust him after asking. Knowing he will brings a peace and calm we can then proclaim for the world to pay witness.

He allows our storms that we might help others by proclaiming his great work in our own lives as we struggle.

Until next time, may you find peace in your storm

-rob out

P.S. Spend today in Psalm 107. It’s wonderfully comforting.