Every so often God brings us to a point where we are too tired, overwhelmed, and completely INCAPABLE of making it through whatever trial He has called us to bear JUST SO THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ASK HIM TO CARRY US. It's amazingly easy to get so caught up in the things of the moment and somehow manage to overlook God's hand at work in every facet of our lives. Challenge can be such blessings! How else would we have grow tremendously in faith and spirit? Or gain physical, mental, and emotional strength? How else would we see the Lord's fingerprints so vividly in EVERY aspect of life?

One night I sat in my living room with the windows and doors open during a most unexpected and torrential thunderstorm. It is in those kinds of moments that God's hand in all of creation becomes all the more undeniably real. Captivated with the booming thunder which shook the very earth and the bolts of lightning erupting across the Heavens with illuminating flashes as bright as the sun, I sat down to compose a letter:

What a truly incredible lifetime I have had! Filled with so many highs and lows, blessings and miracles, joys overcoming despair. Every day I am more amazed by the awesome majesty of our Lord God. He has consistently opened the floodgates of Heaven to bless me far beyond my expectations. He sees and anticipates my every need—often long before I am even aware of what those needs are—and he fills me, heart, mind, body and soul with His blessings. This is so very humbling indeed. How is it that sometimes I get so caught up in the things of the moment I manage to overlook God's hand at work in every facet of my life? Every now and then he sends me one of these 'thunderstorms' just to open my eyes and bring me to my knees in praise. I am so very grateful that He does.

The next morning I awoke to absolute chaos and destruction throughout the neighborhood. I was astounded with the extent of the damage! From within my home I could hear the storm, and even some of the wind, but had never anticipated the hurricane-like damage that had ultimately ensued. The storm had knocked down trees and power lines, damaged several houses and businesses, and the streets were covered with branches, leaves, and debris. It occurred to me that just as I could not comprehend the destruction of the storm until it had passed, more often than not I cannot comprehend the depth of God's plans until the raging storms and darkness of night are removed and I am left with clearer vision through His completed work.

God really does make good of ALL things, ALL events, and ALL circumstances for those He calls His Own. God is just so truly amazing! He ALWAYS keeps His word, never letting us down, no matter how troubled our human hearts and minds become. Our sight is clouded by vision which is so inherently shortsighted. He does this for us, and that can include YOU. Why?

Love.

Not because of something we have done, and not conditioned upon how 'good' or how 'badly' we behave. God sees us precisely as we are both in the past and in the present, then beyond into the future. He created us, just as He created all the heavens and the earth. Everything in existence is under His command.

In the storms of life sometimes we all feel abandoned and alone. However, I know that I will always find solace, strength, peace and perspective in knowing that I can forever place all of my hope and trust in The Word of my Creator, Father, and Friend. In those moment of tormented anguish I turn to God, not knowing what it is I need to hear, but trusting that He will show me exactly the words my heart NEEDS and longs for most. Some storms in life are necessary for change and for growth. No matter what the trial, storm or need there are a few things to remember:

1. The trials and sins of the past are no longer. The Lord created us anew each day and has wiped away all traces, (even if the memories remain), of the past. We can spend a lifetime trying to please others; always giving but never seeing any benefit of any tangible (worldly) sense in our own life. The Lord says these vain toils and followings of the past are over with!

2. The Lord carries us through every storm and is here with us in this place. He establishes our homes, He fills it with our every need (and then some). He blesses us beyond measure in every facet of our lives even when we do not recognise His hand or His presence in the circumstances.

3. All things must take place in a specified order. Sometimes I look for and want all troubles to be resolved and perfect in an instant. Occasionally impatience takes over and our entire perspective become,'whacked'. God has a process! (His timing being perfect, too.) Difficult moments must be gone through in order to achieve the end blessings. When hope is weak, faith lacking, impatience gripping, He will comfort —With the same powerful love, healing, and sense of "all is well" that my own daughters feel when I hold them in their moments of distress.

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