Recently my friend, Kylie, told me about a quote she heard on KLOVE. I'm not sure I can get it right but it was something like,
"Don't just tell God about your storms, but tell your storms about God."
I've thought about that quote quite a bit lately. I've always known that I could go to God in prayer regarding any "storms" in my life. I've had a really great life but like everyone else, there have been a few storms, and I've talked to God about them.
What do you think it means to "tell your storms about your God"? That quote meant something to me right away, but I wasn't really sure why. I've been pondering it for a few weeks now. During this last year I faced an internal storm. Really, I mean that quite literally. I wasn't facing lightening, thunder or torrential rains but I had to deal with Crohn's Disease, IBS and clostridium Difficile. Should I scold my intestines, telling them my God is going to get even with them? I'm not sure that was really what it meant, but maybe...
After I pondered the physical storms in my life I thought of other kinds of storms. I thought of times I feel insecure or inadequate. Perhaps those are the times I need to tell my storms about my God. I need to tell inadequacy that I am strengthened by my God and can therefore accomplish much more than I could on my own. I can tell insecurity to take a hike because I am a cherished child of God and he cares for me tenderly.
Does any of this make sense to anyone else? Does anyone feel insightful with regard to this quote?
"Don't just tell God about your storms, but tell your storms about God."
I've thought about that quote quite a bit lately. I've always known that I could go to God in prayer regarding any "storms" in my life. I've had a really great life but like everyone else, there have been a few storms, and I've talked to God about them.
What do you think it means to "tell your storms about your God"? That quote meant something to me right away, but I wasn't really sure why. I've been pondering it for a few weeks now. During this last year I faced an internal storm. Really, I mean that quite literally. I wasn't facing lightening, thunder or torrential rains but I had to deal with Crohn's Disease, IBS and clostridium Difficile. Should I scold my intestines, telling them my God is going to get even with them? I'm not sure that was really what it meant, but maybe...
After I pondered the physical storms in my life I thought of other kinds of storms. I thought of times I feel insecure or inadequate. Perhaps those are the times I need to tell my storms about my God. I need to tell inadequacy that I am strengthened by my God and can therefore accomplish much more than I could on my own. I can tell insecurity to take a hike because I am a cherished child of God and he cares for me tenderly.
Does any of this make sense to anyone else? Does anyone feel insightful with regard to this quote?
10 comments:
First off, I would like to say that I have a dear friend with Crohn's and have watched her deal with it with such grace. I have great admiration for anyone who has to deal with such a storm.
For me this is a quote that is quite encouraging and yet makes me feel slightly guilty. I know that I don't spend time with God as I should and I don't put Him at the top as I should. I know that He loves me regardless of all of that, but I still feel a tugging at my heart knowing that I'm not doing my part. :/
Thank you for sharing, Anna.
I think we ALL have to be grateful for the gift of GRACE.
i've heard this quote as
"don't just tell God about your problems, tell your problems about your God." i think it partly means to take the focus off the problem or the storm and put the focus on God and how much bigger He is than anything we ever face. it makes the storm or the problem have a lot better perspective and so much more peace when we turn our eyes upon Jesus.
this last year i've had many opportunities to say "God is good. even when nothing makes sense, He is good."
I've heard yet another version: "Don't tell God how big your problems are (something we tend to do when we pray, as though he doesn't know how big they really are), but tell your problems how big your God is. In case of suffering we would tell our pain that God is bigger and wiser; that He is most faithful to never forsake or leave us; and that He will work all for His gory and our ultimate good! I will pray for your recovery.
Oh, you guys have some great insight! Thanks so much!
Susan, I've never heard that quote before, but I like how it sounds. I think I've complained too much to God sometimes, not realizing that he's given me gifts and talents in order for me to use them to figure out some things myself rather than waiting for a bolt of lightning or a parting of the sea. I'm sorry to hear you've been challenged by Crohn's disease. I'll send along healing thoughts!
God works all for His glory, not gory, lol. It must have been late!
Ha! Petra, I hadn't even noticed that. Too funny...
A blog entry of mine about this...
http://www.concordiayouth.com/elissa/web/index.php
scroll to the bottom.
I checked out your blog and encourage everyone else to go there as well. You said it all so very well. Thanks!
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