Chalk Board of Life: The storms ahead

Picture this image for a minute. Standing in the middle of the sea, and you see so many white caps, one after another heading toward shore. As you try your hardest to stand up straight, along comes a bigger wave. Going through your mind is “how am I going to withstand it”? Will you fall, or will you remain standing?

That was me, standing in the sea of Port Aransas, Texas. These waves were small, but as I got closer, they would get bigger than I thought. They actually knocked me down a couple of times, but as I kept my eyes forward, I started to prepare myself again and again for the waves coming at me. Eventually, I didn’t fall down when they hit.

During that time in the sea, the Lord revealed something to me. As I stood still, listening with my eyes closed, the Lord said to me: “Danielle, see these waves? These are storms that will be ahead of you. I’m preparing you for them before they come. Don’t worry because I won’t let them knock you down. I will be there beside you, protecting and guiding you. Don’t fear, for I’m with you. Cast your fears on Me, for I am your strength.”

I felt at peace as He spoke to me that day. He doesn’t stop working in us, but continues and continues. In my past, I never knew how to fight through the waves, I just kept letting them drown me. But, today, as I give more of my heart to Him, He gives me grace and victory before the storms.

So, to end with this, think about the waves in the storms pushing you down and you struggling and fighting so hard against them that you don’t know what to do! Look to what the scripture says:

2 Chronicles 20:17 “You will not need to fight in this position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow, go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

I encourage you to allow the Lord into the midst of your waves. He will give you strength and miracles to overcome the storms ahead!

Danielle Ybarra

GOD’S GRACE

One of my favorite movies is War Room. If you haven’t seen it – put it on your ‘to do’ list. The story is life changing, one you don’t want to miss.
Yes, the movie is about prayer. But, it’s also about Grace, the kind that allows us to forgive.

Forgiving people that have hurt you or wronged you or offended you is hard! But, if you start with prayer – which is your part – and then let God do His part – the process is a whole lot easier.
Grace means that you have to forgive those who aren’t sorry and may never be sorry for something they did to harm you. And, you may have to accept that an apology may never be coming from someone who really should offer one. When you overcome these things, you break their power over you and it frees you. No longer are you burdened by the pain of these past offenses.

And you let God fight for you. It doesn’t mean that things will change in your life, but you are able to move on, free of the hold that was upon you. Free to move into the plans God has for your life. Free to become the person you’re destined to be.

Are there people to whom you need to extend the hand of grace? Some may no longer be in your life, but you find you’re still holding on to the wrong, hurts or the offenses they committed. You are still being hurt by it…they are not. So, you have to give it to God and let it go.

God is wanting a relationship with you, He wants to take you to the next level but you won’t be able to move if you’re holding on to the weight of past hurts. Give them grace – give them what God has given you; Grace. He gave us grace when we didn’t deserve it. God gave His Son to die on the cross for us; the ultimate example of God’s Grace.
When it seems too hard to give to God the past hurts people have done to you, to offer them forgiveness and grace, think about God’s Grace you have experienced; what He gives to you and me every day.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Proverbs 3:34
Surely, He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.
Grace is the ultimate pain reliever. Why continue to live with the past hurts when you can be relieved of them right now. Just go to God who will help you extend the grace needed for your healing.

~ Ruth

~ Ruth