I felt kind of bad, really.
While we lounged on a beautiful tropical beach in Grenada, our family and friends back home were undergoing a major winter storm so severe that the schools were closed and my mother’s personal support service that helps her bathe and dress each day was canceled. While we cooled off in the crystal clear waters, blizzard-like snows and winds drove the wind-chill of -40. Where our attire of choice was bathing suits, they were huddled down in parkas and mukluks.
There was actually only one thing we had in common: Both of us were surrounded by white. Unfortunately, their “white” was snow, while ours was pristine sand bordered by palm and Sea Grapes.
How can it be that such opposed conditions can exist at the same time?
In our case, it was because we were nearly 4000 km (2500 Miles) south of the frozen northlands we call home. But whether the distance was 40 or 14,000 km, such contrasting weather just didn’t seem right…
We would soon learn, however, that even though the beautiful Grenadian weather could shield us from the blizzards back home, it could not shield us from the storms of life…
We would learn shortly after arriving in Grenada that our house had sold. This is, of course, a very good thing. The problem came when our house didn’t pass inspection. Some of the plumbing was apparently not up to code. The pipes would have to be replaced before the sale could be finalized.
In a flash, a major “blizzard” struck our peaceful little paradise.
But God had some important lessons to teach me. He wanted me to understand that a tropical paradise can exist amidst a winter storm. When I took the problem to Him in prayer, He promised that He would take care of it. I believed Him, and I exchanged my “blizzard” for the quiet solitude of the “tropical beach” He had for me. After all, if God had it all under control, why should I worry?
And it seemed I could truly “relax on my beach” amidst the “storm” of life, for a friend came in with an incredibly low estimate for the repairs. Wow. God is so good.
But the “blizzard” winds were not finished. The friend’s boss would not allow him to do the job due to the fact that our house was not in the work area of his company. In addition, his company also refused to get involved in a real estate deal.
I admit, I stepped off my beach, barefoot and bareheaded, so to speak, and leaped into the biting winds and blinding snows of that storm. I worried. I fretted. I…Well I’ll just jump over all of that, for after an embarrassing amount of time, I did finally remember God’s promises. I give it all back to Him, and instantly I was back on my “peaceful beach”.
Three different plumbers were then contacted and came into the house for estimates. Our son texted us after the second bunch had gone through. He was quite concerned about the estimates as it seemed to him that the companies were gouging us more than a little.
I don’t know why I don’t learn, but I jumped off my “beach” and dove head-first into a “towering snow drift”. I began to worry and fret that the repairs would cost far more than we could afford.
In the back of my mind, however, I could hear God’s voice calling me back out of the storm, reassuring me that He did, indeed, have it all under control. I responded to His call, and once again, I could feel the warmth of the “Son” shining down on me in the midst of my storm.
It was about an hour later when our son texted us once again with the quote from the third plumber, someone who had done work for us before and someone we trusted. His quote was even less than that of our friend, and he could begin the work right away.
Yes, we can have that peaceful, warm, relaxing experience, even in the midst of a major storm of life. And no, we don’t have to travel 4000 km (2500 miles) south to find it. It is with us all the time. We simply have to choose to believe that our Heavenly Daddy has it all under control, and we don’t need to worry about a thing. After all, didn’t Jesus say, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28 NLT)? Didn’t Jesus stand up in the back of a wildly-pitching tiny fishing boat and command the wind and the waves: “Silence! Be still!” (Mark 4:39 NLT)?
It doesn’t matter how bad your storm might be. We can always find the peace and warmth of that tropical beach in Grenada. All we have to do is choose to believe that our Best Friend (SeeJohn 15:15) has it all under control. We have to put our faith in the God of Angel Armies (seePs. 84:9). We must choose to trust the One who can do all things (SeeMatt. 19:26).
Storm going on all around? Why not join me on a tropical beach in Grenada by giving it all to God and trusting Him to have it all under control?
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, andScriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, withAnswers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.