By Lynn Tolbert, She Speaks! Graduate
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1(NIV)
One of my favorite movies is Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. At the end of the movie, there is a scene where the two stars are running for their lives from a huge tornado. It’s pulling cows in the air, tearing up fences, and lifting houses off the ground. Searching for something to hide in or hold onto, they found some pipes deeply rooted into the ground. They strapped themselves onto the pipe and held on for dear life. The pipe kept them secure as the fierce winds sucked their legs into the air.
What a great picture of our own search for something to hold onto in the storms of our lives. The worst storm clouds I’ve ever faced began swirling the day I learned that my husband’s heart had left our marriage.
In the midst of our divorce the winds grew stronger, pounding so hard I felt like they were going to sweep me up and drop me down. I remember sitting at the top of my stairs looking out of my second story windows into the trees while I cried out to God. I didn’t think I could take any more of the battering winds, yet I couldn’t escape.
Hanging on to God for dear life and trusting that He was going to protect me was the only way I could survive the storm. I’d remind myself of today’s key verse constantly. Sometimes I would scream out loud, just to be sure God could hear me.
My hands are calloused from gripping the pipe so tightly. God truly has been and continues to be my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble. As the dust from the battering winds begins to settle, I raise my head and notice the most amazing sunshine breaking through the clouds.
Where would I have landed if I had not made God the pipe to which I clung to during the most horrific storm in my life? He is the reason that I wake every morning and look forward to a new day. He is the reason that I have the strength to manage everything that a single mom is responsible for…which is everything.
Do you feel the winds picking up? Is there a storm raging in your life? Run to God and hold on for dear life! He is waiting for you. He promises to be your refuge.
Dear Lord, when the winds of the storms begin to pick up remind me that You are my only source of protection. Help me to never forget that Your strength never tires. Give me Your Holy Spirit to endure the challenges in life, not if, but when they come. Help me to be ready. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
i am not but I know I AM, by Louie Giglio
Let It Rain, Worship CD by Gwen Smith
Fear-Less, Thank-full Message on CD, by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Find scriptures that address your specific needs. Write those scriptures on index cards and memorize them. Refer to them when you feel the winds picking up.
Reflections:
What is the pipe you are clinging to right now? Is it God and His Word?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 43:2-3, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, They will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, You will not be burned; The flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (NIV)
Psalm: 9:9-10, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (NIV)
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1(NIV)
One of my favorite movies is Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. At the end of the movie, there is a scene where the two stars are running for their lives from a huge tornado. It’s pulling cows in the air, tearing up fences, and lifting houses off the ground. Searching for something to hide in or hold onto, they found some pipes deeply rooted into the ground. They strapped themselves onto the pipe and held on for dear life. The pipe kept them secure as the fierce winds sucked their legs into the air.
What a great picture of our own search for something to hold onto in the storms of our lives. The worst storm clouds I’ve ever faced began swirling the day I learned that my husband’s heart had left our marriage.
In the midst of our divorce the winds grew stronger, pounding so hard I felt like they were going to sweep me up and drop me down. I remember sitting at the top of my stairs looking out of my second story windows into the trees while I cried out to God. I didn’t think I could take any more of the battering winds, yet I couldn’t escape.
Hanging on to God for dear life and trusting that He was going to protect me was the only way I could survive the storm. I’d remind myself of today’s key verse constantly. Sometimes I would scream out loud, just to be sure God could hear me.
My hands are calloused from gripping the pipe so tightly. God truly has been and continues to be my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble. As the dust from the battering winds begins to settle, I raise my head and notice the most amazing sunshine breaking through the clouds.
Where would I have landed if I had not made God the pipe to which I clung to during the most horrific storm in my life? He is the reason that I wake every morning and look forward to a new day. He is the reason that I have the strength to manage everything that a single mom is responsible for…which is everything.
Do you feel the winds picking up? Is there a storm raging in your life? Run to God and hold on for dear life! He is waiting for you. He promises to be your refuge.
Dear Lord, when the winds of the storms begin to pick up remind me that You are my only source of protection. Help me to never forget that Your strength never tires. Give me Your Holy Spirit to endure the challenges in life, not if, but when they come. Help me to be ready. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
i am not but I know I AM, by Louie Giglio
Let It Rain, Worship CD by Gwen Smith
Fear-Less, Thank-full Message on CD, by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Find scriptures that address your specific needs. Write those scriptures on index cards and memorize them. Refer to them when you feel the winds picking up.
Reflections:
What is the pipe you are clinging to right now? Is it God and His Word?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 43:2-3, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, They will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, You will not be burned; The flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (NIV)
Psalm: 9:9-10, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (NIV)
14 Comments:
I started reading Proverbs 31 daily devotions 10 months ago when I found out my husband of 21 years was having an "emotional" affair with the daughter of my best friend. Although this has been the most difficult 10 months of my life it has truly been a blessing to me. The affair brought me back to seek God for all things..How mighty and faithful He is. Thank you for your devotions. They have helped me get through.
May God bless you always.
Thank you for your candor, and so many of us can relate. Being single after having been married with young kids feels as you describe...who/what else can you hold on to but God...we as single Moms are responsible for "everything", but have God to guide us, and to hold.
Thank you for being willing to be used as a vessel for the Lord, and sharing your heartache, and most of all YOUR SOURCE of STRENGTH!
It is truly a blessing to see how God is keeping you in His care, as well as strengthening you daily- to be the mother to your children, and Godly witness that you have been to me with just this one posting with Prv 31 webstite.
Thank you for going out on the limb, and giving testament to how great God is!
Prayers to you, and thank you for reminding me that God should be our anchor ALWAYS and will see us through the twisters and storms of our everyday lives- both the big and small storms.
My husband has also left our marriage(and is living with another woman). God has directed me to stand in the gap and pray for my husbands salvation and the restoration of our marriage. It is not an easy thing to do but if God calls you to do something he will give you what you need to carry it out.
My prayers are with you.
storms come in different ways and it may not always be a broken marriage but what about marriage when you are the one trying with all to live for God and teach your children Godly ways, who could you lean on and trust it is no one but the master. thanks for your testimonies they mean alot to my soul.
I praise God for Proverbs 31 ministries. In a world where Christians (churches) shoot their wounded, I thank God for the insight Proverbs 31 has shown by having you as one of the authors for our daily devotions. God has given a message today, through sharing your suffering. You have given encouragement to many women, myself included.
Please be encouraged and uplifted. I will be praying for your changed burden, that the Lord would lift the yoke of single parenting and carry you through. God give you strength, peace, calm through the storms, and please, Lord place this dear women in my thoughts at the moments when she needs prayer the most. God Bless Proverbs 31 ministries, a true beacon of light admist the raging storms that come our way.
I sit here and I shed tears as I remember. It is devastating to realize that the person to whom you have dedicated your mind, body and soul no longer loves you. You ponder when, where, why and what? You question yourself. You doubt youself. You carry guilt and shame. You question the validity of everything that you have ever believed. But what is most memorable and remarkable is when you wade through the water and are able to laugh again, love again and feel again. You recognize that God's grace is sufficient and that His mercy endures forever. You realize that you are beautifully and wonderfully made and that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. I now know more than ever that the Lord is the strength of my life. I have nothing to fear.
Thanks for sharing your story. I, too, was a single mom for a season. The self-condemnation was profound, not to mention the stone throwing from others within the body of Christ. It creeps back into my life on days when I make myself vulnerable in the sharing my story (i.e. yesterday on my blog).
We risk something with the telling of our stories. We risk others not understanding. We risk rejection.
But full redemption belongs to God. When our "past" begins to work for us...instead of against us...then we are walking in freedom.
Chist didn't go all the way to Calvary and back to leave us as we are. Christ went to the cross...looking for his bride. We are his bride--stained, wrinkled, and blemished as we are.
What a wondrous and glorious love!
I want to walk in freedom. I want others to know a similar portion.
Thank you, Lynn, for bringing your story to the light. Your past is working for you, my friend. Be blessed!
peace~elaine
PS: For those of you wanting to see "full redemption" at work, I invite you over to my blog to read my post from yesterday entitled "My Ephesians 5:25".
Thank you so much for sharing and honesty. It is good to know that I am not alone, although I never wish for anyone to go through what I have gone through. For 3+ years I tried to figure out what was wrong with my marriage. In July my husband of 16 years (together 19) left me for one of my friends. He also moved out of state to be with her. I have learned to work full time, go to grad school one night a week, and be a single parent to 2 boys. It has been the toughest struggle ever. I still don't think I go a day without thinking about it all. I read something that helped me: if God is all knowing and loving, I am where he needs me to be right now. If he could get me to where I need to be anyother way he would have. Thank you again.
These verses are such a treasure. Thank you for sharing how to get thru these difficult times in our lives and for leading the way.
As I read these blogs, my spirit feels the pain in some of them. I too have been called by God to stand for my marriage and pray for restoration. When the Lord first called me to do this, I had a very hard time accepting this. All I wanted was vengence against my husband. I couldn't understand why the Lord would ask me to fast, pray and forgive when my husband was the one who walked out on me. From mine and the world's perspective, my marriage was dead. He lived with another woman and had children with her. Yet, God in His Sovereignty, Mercy and Love, gently began to do a new work in me. Many times, I wanted to just give up. Even after so many promises the Lord had given me to help me wait on God and BELIEVE Him regardless of what I see and hear. The Lord is Faithful and True. It only takes one of us to take up our position, BELIEVE in Him who is able to take that which is dead and calls things that are not as though they were - Romans 4:17. He is the Life and Resurrection. It's not easy to wait on God and trust Him but He is able to GLORIFY HIMSELF in our situations, if we are willing. Ladies, God bless each of you. May the pain, sufferings, shame and questions you have be answered by the One who is our Vindicator, Mountain Mover, Comforter, Teacher, Friend and Husband.
What a blessing to read the comments on your blog and realize that standing in the gap for a marriage is being reinforced. I too have a dead marriage (in the eyes of the world), but I know the One I serve and He has asked me to pay the sacrifice and believe that He will restore my husband and my marriage. Once a covenant has been written in heaven, God doesn't foresake it. Therefore, I am asked not to foresake it either. There were 3 present at the making of my vows and there is still a majority preparing for the restoration (God and I are a majority). Thank you for sharing and may God richly bless your life and your ministry.
MANY YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND SIT ACROSS FROM ME, LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND SAID, I WANT A DIVORCE. I STARTED LAUGHING,I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. HE NEVER BATTED AN EYE, HE LOOKED SO COLD, AND MEANT EVERY WORD HE SAID. HE LEFT MY CHILDREN AND I WITH NOTHING. AFTER 13 YEARS OF MARRIAGE IT WAS FINISHED. OUR LIVES CHANGED. HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER BE THE CHRISTAIN MAN I WANTED.HE TOLD ME TO FIND ME SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE. SO MANY YEARS LATER, GOD SENT THAT CHRISTIAN MAN INTO MY LIFE AND WE ARE MARRIED TODAY. MY CHILDREN ARE GROWN. THE EX, WELL HE IS STILL THE SAME, IF NOT WORSE. AND IAM SO HAPPY TODAY THAT HE LET ME GO, IT WAS A VERY PAINFUL TIME, I THOUGHT ID NEVER RECOVER, BUT GOD IS SUCH A GREAT HEALER OF HEARTS, AND GIVER OF PERFECT GIFTS FOR HIS CHILDREN.HE GAVE ME A MAN WHO NOT ONLY ACCEPTS HIM, BUT ALL OF ME, GOOD OR BAD. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE...
My sister Lynn is coming to visit our family today and I was compelled to search her on the internet. I'm sssooo very proud of how she has conquered the obstacles placed before her. While our family has supported her during a difficult time in life - she has truly been the champion of her recovery. To this day she is my little sister that I want to protect, but she is also my hero in that she has overcome. I thank all those that have gained a moment of peace by her words and have mentioned as much in your comments here. I will say happiness for all is just around the corner - my sister is a testament to that. Love you Lynn!
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