By: Cris Corzine-McCloskey
I am experiencing an unusual phenomenon…Molly, my faithful rescue dog who rarely leaves my side, is not with me. She is hiding somewhere in the house, probably under a piece of furniture, fearing the world is ending. Why? The dreaded storm! At the mere hint of some rain it’s doggy melt-down mode, and nothing short of medication can convince her all is well. It also doesn’t matter that this is the fifth ‘end of the world’ she has survived in the past week, she is inconsolable till it’s over.
I give her a pass on this though, because truthfully, I am just like her. I can be cruising along, quite content in life, then the first patter of rain is felt. It might come in the form of an unexpected bill or a friend who isn’t doing well, and I feel the first twinges of anxiety. All it takes after that is a few other storm symptoms (trouble at the workplace, relationship strife) and I go in to full-blown ‘Molly mode’ quicker than she can wag her tail. I might look okay on the outside, but I’m wound tighter than a spring with fear and anticipation of things getting worse.
Here is where Molly and I differ, though. I’m trying really hard to no longer hide through the storms. Instead, I remind myself of every ‘end of the world’ that God has brought me through and draw strength on the fact that if I lived through those, odds are, I will survive this one. The Israelite’s had a process for this they called setting an Ebenezer stone. These were stones that they would place after God had delivered them from something, so when they walked by it, they would be reminded of God’s faithfulness. Specifically, it says in 1 Samuel 7:12 that one was set by Samuel to say “Thus far, the Lord has helped us.” I love that! It’s a physical reminder of a spiritual truth. Thus far, the Lord has helped us, odds are, He won’t stop now, so we can calm ourselves when the storm rages.
Anyone who has read my blog in the past knows that I am a work in progress when it comes to fear and anxiety. My heart’s desire is to feel the first patters of rain, grab my rain boots, and go out and jump in the puddles, knowing my Abba God loves me and isn’t going to let anything happen that wont work to my good (Romans 8:28). I’m not there yet. But He is not upset with me. Instead He gently reminds me of all the Ebenezer stones we have collected along the way, and I am calmed enough to not hide under the furniture. Like I said, a long way from splashing in puddles, but this is a work in progress. I challenge you to reflect on your moments of God’s faithfulness, write them down in a notebook, and when those storm clouds burst, you might be out there dancing in the rain.
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