The following is an email I sent to a friend this morning. And then I thought that maybe, in these perilous days, there may be some who are struggling with fear or uncertainty...so I'm posting it here as well.
w retur
cynthialottvogel@gm
w retur
I'm such a scaredy cat. I was out with a friend and it was a nice day out when suddenly, within minutes the sky grew dark and a POWERFUL storm suddenly appeared. Trees were falling all around us and the thunder was deafening.I was terrified...and my friend was LAUGHING...."You all 'fessed up,Cyn?" and truly it did look to me like we were not going to survive. And he was exulting in the power of God displayed in that storm. Later, I pondered his reaction and my own. And I was ashamed of myself. Surely, we were as secure in God's hands in that storm as we were in the moments before it. But I have this "thing" with storms. They terrify me. And I know that God wants me to get over ,it.And he has been working on me ever since.....displaying to me that the paths of storms are absolutely under his command.That whether or not trees fall and power goes out is in his domain also. That hurricanes are no more of a problem to him than are April showers.
And now, God is taking me through that same journey of burgeoning trust as these "last days" events are developing and the future looks as dark as that stormy sky was. And I confess: It scares me. And I KNOW that my response more rightly should be joy and shouts of "YEAH!!!! EVEN SO COME Y'shua!!!
I do feel some of that....but as I go on in my faith journey, I am becoming more and more convinced that we,as Christians,are going to be here and will suffer tribulation and persecution prior to Jesus' return. I see that God's work in my heart re: the storms ,is the same process in these future events.it's a journey of trust and absolute faith in the love and might of our God...who knows exactly what he is doing. I desperately want to be an overcomer. And I know that for that to happen there is going to be hardship...as surely as the birth of a child means pain. You know? In the weeks and days prior to the birth of Alexa,when I thought of her arrival,I did not think of it with fear. It was pure anticipation. And even in the midst of a very painful,difficult labor--I had no regret,no fear --I was completely focused on the thought that I would be leaving that hospital with a bundle of joy.
I do not think it was accidental for God to call the beginning of these things beginning to come apart as "birth pains" ...We have the sure and certain promise of a new kingdom coming. and the defeat of the serpent/dragon. Whatever we have to go through first, is not out of God's control and he promises strength to us when we need it. Surely it is a workout of our faith and we should welcome the times of growth and preparation which will come first and most of all.TRUST His love for us and keep the promise of the Kingdom coming shining first and foremost in our sights...The picture of Jesus coming on a white horse with the words "Faithful and TRue" tattooed on his thigh and the pure joy of that moment...must compel us forward. The sights and wonder of Revelation chapters19 and 21 must sustain us. EVEN SO COME!
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