I recently wanted to teach my 3 year old daughter, Maggie, how to drink out of a “big girl” cup.
I went to Wal-Mart and bought her these adorable, brightly-colored tumblers, whose packaging advertised perfection for this exact thing.
As we began to use them, I came to a frustrating realization:
I really, really do not like these cups!
I would constantly open the dishwasher to find the cups strewn about the top shelf. They were almost always sitting the wrong way, filled with dirty water and sediment, and in need of another wash before they could be used again.
One particular day, I was unloading the dishwasher and grumbling at the inconvenient arrangement of these cups. As I began rinsing them out, in my spirit I heard these questions:
“How often are you like those cups, being tossed around by the cares and stressors of life? How often do you allow your life to be filled with fear and worry?”
(It was a “you’ve got to be kidding me moment.” These are just cups, after all! It’s amazing what the Lord will use to get our attention, isn’t it?)
My mind instantly race to the story of Jesus calming the storm: Matthew 8:23-27
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'”
How often do I allow my fear and lack of faith toss me around? How long does it take before I “get it” and allow the Peace-Speaker to speak to the waves in my heart?
“Because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6
During the times that the stressors of marriage, life and parenthood seem overwhelming, I want to be able to stand firm in the God who has called me to live an abundant, peaceful life.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” Colossians 3:15
I pray for you and for myself as we navigate the storms of life, that “the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Blessings,
Barb
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