Cynthia Mendenhall: Storm Warnings
The crazy thing about hurricanes is how they are forecasted out a good week in advance and yet we still don’t know where they’ll hit, when they’ll arrive, and the impact they will make. Tornados are quite the opposite; they can blow up with almost no warning at all.
Life brings us many storms. Little ones blow in and threaten our day or our mood, but we also experience the category four hurricanes and the mile-wide twisters that rip life as we know it into pieces.
Think in terms of a hurricane representing a bad diagnosis, a financial misstep, or an ambush divorce. Tornadoes look more like a job loss or a car crash. Whether we are hit with a hurricane or tornado, those powerful storms of our life can knock us over, blow our roofs off, or we can find ourselves in troubled waters that continue to rise.
How do we cope? Can we find peace when we encounter these serious life-storms and tornados?
The Book of Matthew offers a storm-survival guide. In chapter 14, we find the disciples shoving off the shore after a long day of ministry. When a scary storm hit, their first reaction, like most of us, was to panic. Then they saw a “ghost” on the water and they became terrified. But the ghost was actually Jesus Christ, and he gave the disciples this get-out-of-the-storm-card: “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” (14:27 NLT).
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
~Matthew 14:27 NLT
No matter the storm that comes, Jesus is right there with us, in the middle of it. Acknowledging His presence in the storm doesn’t stop the wind and rain, but it does stop the chaos and crazy in our heads. He helps us keep fear out of the equation. He gives us rest in the storm. He also provides, because of the storm, an opportunity to stretch our faith a little bigger.
No matter the storm that comes, Jesus is right there with us, in the middle of it. #VineWords @cmendenhall2011 #StormWarnings Click To TweetNo matter the storm that comes, Jesus is right there with us, in the middle of it.
~Cynthia Mendenhall, Author of Spunkier Yet!: 8 Secrets to Living with More Fullness and Freedom
Later, in Matthew 28:20b (KJV), Jesus assures us further with this promise, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” No exceptions. No excuses. If the world has not ended, then He is still with us. And He will remain with us even in our very worst storms. Lean into these truths, the next time life gives you a storm warning.
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
~Matthew 28:20b KJV
No matter your storm, Jesus is right there with you, and He will see you through.
How has Jesus demonstrated His presence and care for you during a “storm” or a “tornado” of life?
Father God, Thank You for Your presence when the storms of life threaten me. Help me to lean into Your Son’s ever-presence. No matter the storm, I trust that Jesus is right there with me, helping me to come through, stronger and more dependent on Your lovingkindness and grace.
Amen
Genre: Non-fiction
Copyright 2021: Storm Warnings: Cynthia Mendenhall: All Rights Reserved
Meet Our Contributor
CYNTHIA MENDENHALL
Cynthia Mendenhall is an author, speaker, adventuress, and a contributing writer to VineWords: Devotions and More. Her devotions specialize in victory over traumas such as divorce, or other life-altering situations. She encourages the reader to fully embrace her single-again status, and she inspires her to live every day to the fullest regardless of the challenges she may be working through. Once captive to guilt and fear, and hurt by the loss of a 30-year marriage, Cynthia now pursues with passion the mission of leading others into the true freedom, love, and abundant life, the believer can experience in Jesus Christ.
Cynthia is a former high school English teacher and holds a Masters’ degree in Educational Leadership. She is a Certified Christian Life Coach, a trained Chaplain, and is employed as a Career and Leadership Coach for students of Ohio University.
Her prescriptive non-fiction sits within the context of stories filled with common sense teaching, splashes of humor, and always with the Bible as her foundation. Her voice is that of a friend sharing conversation over coffee.
Cynthia is the author of Spunkify Your Life: 8 Secrets to Living with More Focus, Fascination, and Fun; Spunkify Your Life Growth Guide, and Spunkier Yet!: 8 Secrets to Living with More Fullness and Freedom
Cynthia enjoys spending time at the beach. She regularly sneaks away on all sorts of adventures, taking notes along the way as writing material inspiration. Her favorite activities include riding her cruiser bike, sunset floats in her lime green kayak named Earl, and indulging in literary novels, sipping coffee, and sampling dark chocolate.
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Thank you for sharing this word with us. I’m so thankful for all the times Jesus has calmed the storms in my life.
Amen, Cynthia. Jesus IS right there with us no matter the storms of life. Great devotion. 🙂
“Acknowledging His presence in the storm doesn’t stop the wind and rain, but it does stop the chaos and crazy in our heads.” Jesus did tell us we’d have difficulty in this world, but He’s given us all the tools to overcome it. Thank you, Cynthia for this reminder.
Amen Ms. Cynthia! We do not have to face the storms of life alone ma’am. What a blessing!