This episode is also available as a blog post: http://immysister.org/2017/11/14/the-eye-of-the-storm/

Written by: Kim Johnson 

Sometimes, I just have to sit back and praise God for no reason at all. When I think of all the times God should have turned His back on me and He didn’t, I am just plain ole grateful. And even in my brokenness, when I went through Hurricane Katrina (figuratively speaking), and I thought I wouldn’t survive, God was right there extending me grace and mercy.

Humph…just thinking about life. Storms. God; and how they are all intertwined, I am awed. For instance, let’s look at Hurricane Katrina metaphorically. According to an article I read, the storm crept up on Louisiana early in the morning, causing catastrophic damage and death. Well, in my mind’s eye, I imagine everyone was sleeping, feeling warm, safe, secure, and not a care in the world. Then out of nowhere the category 3 storm hit with 100 -140 mile winds per hour. The storm was devastating, kind of like the storms that enter our lives; suddenly, swiftly and from out-of-nowhere.

When trouble (storms) enter our lives, it can almost be hard to catch your breath. The intensity almost knocks the wind out of you and you find yourself asking God how can you make it through? The thing is this sister’s, even in the middle of the most horrific storm, there is a calm region at the center called the Eye of the Storm. And during that time there CAN be sunshine, you can even see a rainbow, but you have to hold on tight to God’s hand and His promise.

In the bible, James writes that we should consider it all joy when we encounter various trials (James 1:2). Pastor Charles Stanley breaks it down even further, he say’s “there is nothing joyful about trials in and of themselves. The key to finding joy in adversity is where we place our focus. If we concentrate on our circumstances, we will become disheartened and discouraged. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we learn to rejoice in our difficulties, because God has promised to work through them to strengthen our faith, bring us into closer fellowship with Himself, and teach us endurance (pg. 1475).

Sister’s, what I am basically trying to say is this, you may not understand your storm, but know for sure, that even in the middle of your raging emotions, you can find peace. Call out to God, reach out to your sisters, read the bible, talk with someone and most importantly, know that God is working it out for you.

Sister to sister do you hear me? What are you going through?

References
FEMMA. (2017, August 28). Hurricaine Katrina Fast Facts. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/hurricane-katrina-statistics-fast-facts/index.html
Stanley, C. (2009). Life Principles. La Habra, CA: New American Standard Bible.