Recently I was driving to see some girlfriends. The drive was about three hours. An hour in a storm rolled through and I could barely see in front of me. My anxiety ramped up and I thought how it would be easier to just turn around and go home where I felt safe and secure.

Yet I was driving to see four of my soul sisters, two of whom no longer live nearby, and one of them I hadn’t seen in two years.

As my heart pounded I knew turning around was safe and comfortable, but if I didn’t drive through the storm, I wouldn’t get to visit with my friends for the day.

So I prayed to try and release my angst as I white knuckled it through the storm.

Eventually the sky cleared up and the sun shined through. I got to have an amazing day with my dear friends.

I am sharing this with you today because this story parallels with so many of our lives. If you can relate with wanting to avoid the storm and retreat to what is safe and comfortable, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

Whatever storm we may be facing, if God hasn’t directed us to stay in our comfort zone, than it must be a storm we need to move through. May we pray to let go of what is comfortable and secure and trust that God will be with us through the storm. And although we don’t know how long we will have to endure the storm, may we trust that in time the sky will clear and there will be something beautiful waiting for us on the other side.

With love and hope,

Shawn

…you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:3-4