Predicted Storms

Things happen in life that seem to sideswipe us. Things that we never saw coming, but they came. I think it's funny that majority of the time, the things that surprise us the most, are the difficult things of life. I'm not saying good things don't have the ability to do that too... but it's mainly the bad things. The things that throw a wrench in everything else. Maybe it's because the bad seems so much heavier and life altering. I know this feeling well. Life is going great. You think you've established a plan. Then boom... a whole bomb explodes and literally feels like your entire life blew up. It sends shockwaves to every part of us. Those life altering moments really make us pause and try to recover from the tornado, bomb, hurricane, whatever term you want to use that just ripped through our life. And we sit in the shock for a little while. But isn't it amazing... that what comes as such a shock to us. What comes and shakes up our life like a hidden bomb that we didn't know was coming but just went off. That same thing... the Lord saw coming. And He didn't flinch when everything happened. When your entire world felt like it was shaking. When the bomb went off. The Lord stood firm. How amazing. What rest. To take comfort in the fact that the Lord ordained this. The Lord knew this was coming. And maybe we didn't see it at the time, but because He knew this was coming, not only was He prepared, but He was preparing you. Even if you were still shocked. Just because you didn't see it coming, doesn't mean He wasn't preparing you for how to handle it afterwards. I remember going through some pretty earth shaking things earlier this year. I look back and I see how the Lord was preparing me. Not necessarily for the earthquake to come, but during it and the aftermath of it. He planted the people in my path that He would use during and after it all to help me in it all. Specific people that were purposely placed at the perfect time, "coincidentally ;)." He made sure I was focusing on Him completely, so that when the storms came, I had my eyes fixed on my firm foundation. I was already gazing on the One who brought me to and would bring me through. Not one thing through it all surprised the Lord. And I think a lot of us forget that. Because as humans, we experience surprising things/events all the time. Things catch us off guard all the time. But the Lord is never caught off guard. Nothing you do, nothing you go through, nothing you say, nothing someone else does ever makes Him flinch or surprises Him. He knew it was going to happen, He knew that thing would be said, He knew that was going to be the outcome. So when we overanalyze and wonder oh... well if I did this or said this, it'd be different. Maybe. But the Lord knew it was going to happen the way it did and if it happened the other way, He would've seen that coming too. He isn't surprised by your storm, what you do, what you say, your sunny days, your relationships. The Lord doesn't see your life like a car accident. Where everything just happens so quickly and so unexpectedly. No one ever expects to get into a car accident. The Lord has ordained EVERY moment in your life and He will sustain you through every single part. So maybe you're in a season that took you by surprise. Maybe you're flustered and floundering. Take rest, God isn't surprised. He knew it'd be apart of your path this whole time. What a joy and comfort that the things that are earth shaking for us, the Lord continues to be our Firm Foundation in. Not shaking, not flinching. He's prepared for you and prepares you for the aftermath of it all. He brings you to it, in it, and through it. Rest in His power, authority, and control over every area of your life, especially the seasons that bring many earthquakes.