Worship through the Storm

Been watching a worship service online that focused on worshiping God through the tough times of life. The service was filled with music and testimonies. The first testimony was from a man recovering from a car accident and about the greatness of God and focusing on Him instead of his circumstances. The second testimony was a mother sharing her journey with a special needs daughter. She talked about the loneliness of her life and how many understand and are compassionate but as she gets older she wonders about never having an empty nest and continuing caring for this young girl who is now 16. They sang a song I hadn't thought of for years. 

     God will make a way, where there seems to be no way
     He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me
     He will be my guide hold me closely to His side
     With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way
     He will make a way.

The third testimony way from a gentleman diagnosed with a brain tumor in January who passed away in June. They played a video of him right after his surgery and he talked about writing a book about what happens when all your plans are changed. 

Throughout the service they sang songs about God's greatness and His faithfulness. They sang about God never-ending presence and His promise to not leave us or forsake us. It was just a great reminder to me here at the end of a very busy summer that in the good and the bad we worship. A statement was made that I've heard several times before...we are either coming out of a storm, heading into a storm or caught up in the midst of the storm. 

I thought about the time when Jesus' disciples were crossing the sea and a storm came and they were freaking out while all along Jesus was down below sleeping. They wake Him and ask Him don't You care if we drown? Then Jesus speaks to the wind and the waves..."PEACE". Jesus still speaks to the storms in our lives as well. His word is the same as it was on the sea that night. When we call out to God in our storm, He says "PEACE". Now, it may not change our storm, its circumstances, the chaos of it, but it can change us. God gives us a peace that passes understanding. I've seen it in the life of a husband who just tragically lost his wife in a freak accident. I've seen it in the eyes of mother as she was diagnosed with cancer. I've seen it in my friend's life as he faced uncertainty about a job and housing for his family. 

I don't know of anyone who asks for hard times but I've seen plenty who have ridden the storm held tight in the palm of God's hand.