Lisa Jordan, Mothering, Trials

Storm: Hearing God’s Whisper Through the Rain

Jeanne Takenaka
Dark clouds hovering over a city, dropping rain over mountains

Guest Post by Lisa Jordan

Intro: I had no idea, on the day I met her, the gifts God had in store for me. My friend and award-winning author, Lisa Jordan, has been a confidante, an encourager, and a speaker of deep wisdom. She’s helped me on my writing journey, been a support and a listening ear when my kids have me pulling my hair out, and most of all, she points me to Jesus when I begin to think everything is up to me. I’m thrilled to begin sharing her quiet wisdom and encouraging words with you all on the last Tuesday of each month. Please help me welcome Lisa Jordan.

*****

At the end of March, I spent two days with friends, who lived ninety minutes from my house. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a social visit but one of necessity—at least to this aching mama. 

Earlier that day, I had taken my youngest son to the walk-in clinic in our community and then the emergency department at our local hospital. His jaw and neck were swelling quickly despite the prescribed antibiotics his doctor had given him the day before. After waiting nearly three hours, the ER physicians decided my son needed to be taken by ambulance to a hospital in a larger city to treat the infection more aggressively so it wouldn’t affect his breathing by closing off his windpipe.

Clouds with sheets of rain falling over the mountains, and the sunset colors behind

However, due to the current COVID-19 precautions, the hospital in the larger city had been locked down to visitors. Even though my son is a young man, he’s still my baby…and I wanted to be there, but I couldn’t. So I stayed with friends to be close by so if, by some miracle, the hospital allowed me to visit. 

After crawling into the guest room bed and tossing and turning, I had finally fallen asleep until winds howled, lightning flashed, and thunder rolled. With winter being ushered out, making way for spring to flourish, the storm was the first of the season. 

An aspen tree that was struck by lightning and still grows

I have to confess—I absolutely hate storms, particularly anything involving strong winds or lightning. When I was a child, a tree had fallen on our house. Even though I had spent the night with my grandparents, who lived down the road, that accident created a domino effect of events that changed my life forever. 

As I tossed and turned in bed and hid my face in the pillow every time lightning lit up the room and thunder shook the house, I tried not to think of my son alone at the hospital, my book proposal due to my editor that week, or my deadlines for work.  

But then the whisper of a song floated into my head—“Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns. 

So, as the rains pelted the windows of my friend’s guest room and kept me from drifting back to sleep, I prayed and asked God to calm the storm. And if He wouldn’t do that, then would He please calm this child. 

A scene of an old church as viewed through the rain-dotted window of a bus

As I hummed the song to myself, my tensed body relaxed. Even though I couldn’t be with my son, God was there. Watching him. Overseeing him. Healing him. 

Worrying wasn’t going to change any of those circumstances. But praising God would chase away the fear. 

Rain pounding some fields and moving forward across the land

How many times have we asked God to change our circumstances instead of changing us?

During this season of quarantine and shutdown, many of you are experiencing many storms—job loss, financial stress, grieving the loss of experiences such as senior year, health issues, and mourning losses of loved ones who have succumbed to the COVID-19 virus. 

For me, for that moment, the rain was troubling. 

That late March storm was mild compared to storms others have endured such as hurricanes, tornados and typhoons, but they caused anxiety and sleeplessness in me. 

Rain is vital to our everyday living. It can be cooling, refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Or it can be devastating and wreak havoc. Even the strongest tree can crack if the winds and rains are strong enough. 

The same goes with life—we may endure a gentle summer-like rain of challenges, or at times, it feels like a hurricane has blown through and ripped our hearts apart. We struggle to hear His whisper through the rain. No matter how severe the storm, though, God is in the midst.

Meme: "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and the earth." Psalm 121:1-2 on a backdrop of snow covered mountains and blue skies

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

God stays constant, never bending or breaking. And no matter how small or heavy the storms in our lives, He hears every prayer, every cry of our heart. 

A picture of an orange sun setting and leaving burned trees in silhouette

And He’s at work calming the storm…or calming the child . . . even if you can’t hear His whisper through the rain. 

What about you? During this time of our lives being turned upside down, how are you handling the adversities? How do you praise God in the storms?

Click to tweet: No matter how severe the storm, though, God is in the midst

I’m linking up with #TellHisStory and #RaRaLinkup

Bio: Heart, home, and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories with those elements come naturally. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Management, Lisa is an award-winning author for Love Inspired, writing contemporary Christian romances that promise hope and happily ever after. Her latest book, Season of Hope, released in March 2019. She is the operations manager for Novel. Academy, powered by My Book Therapy. Happily married to her own real-life hero for over thirty years, Lisa and her husband have two grown sons. When she isn’t writing, Lisa enjoys family time, kayaking, good books, and being creative with words, fibers, and photos. Visit her at lisajordanbooks.com

*****Life can be hard. Do you ever need a little encouragement on this journey? I’d love to walk with you. I’m excited to share a 28-day devotional ebook with my newsletter subscribers. Join the journey by clicking the image to receive this gift and uplifting thoughts monthly.*****

 

Published by Jeanne Takenaka

Award winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days.

35 thoughts on “Storm: Hearing God’s Whisper Through the Rain”

  2. Thank you so much for this, Lisa and Jeanne. Your words echo my thoughts from earlier this week…
    I was planting apple trees and digging a couple of large holes. I contemplating how to sturdy these tender shoots when the words of a gardener from almost 20 years ago came back to my mind. I had come to him with my concern that the trunks of some of our trees were so thin. He asked me if I had tied them down after planting. I told him I had three years ago. “Are they still tied up,” he asked with a concerned look on his face. I nodded.
    He shook his head and said, “No wonder they are not growing. Trees only need to be sturdied for one year, after that you have to let the wind do its job and toss the thing.”
    While I read your post and sensed the wind of our day, I was moved to give thanks to God for this storm. I praise Him for steadying our roots and growing us stronger in our resolve to follow Jesus.
    THANK YOU!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. “Let the wind do its job and toss the thing.” Wow, I didn’t know that. Wind is powerful, isn’t it? We may not like the storms we’re walking through, but if we allow them, we are strengthened as we lean on God to guide us through.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Thank you both, Lisa & Jeanne, for this beautiful and encouraging post. I have returned to Psalm 121 many times during this crisis. May we keep lifting our eyes to the One who is able at all times, and in all things, to brings us all through. Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Joanne, I love the beauty of the words in Psalm 121 and the visual it creates in my mind when I pray. Such a loving portrayal of a Heavenly Father watching over His children.

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  5. Lisa,
    Thank you for sharing this post. It is so hard to place our loved ones, especially our kids, into God’s loving hands and relinquish control. I love Psalm 121 and it reminds me that when I look to the hills it doesn’t say that my help “may” come…it says my help “Comes” from the Lord. In difficult times like these, I look back over my life – to the Ebenezers I’ve raised to His faithfulness and it gives me courage and strength.
    Blessings and thanks for sharing, Jeanne!
    Bev xx

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I agree, Bev. The more we trust him, the more our faith grows, especially with releasing those fears up to Him. He continues to grow our courage and strength.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your story, Lisa. Yes, even in the storm He is there. It isn’t easy to feel that way when the tree has fallen on the house, for sure! But, yes, He is in the pain, and the uncertainty, and the sadness, and the…everywhere. May you be feeling is calming presence right now. Your words have helped me remember His presence. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lynn, I’m so glad you’re reminded of His presence. And it can be tough to feel His presence when we’re going through the storms, but no matter how we feel, He’s always there.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. These words are words I need to remember: “How many times have we asked God to change our circumstances instead of changing us?” or might I add. To change someone else, instead of changing me.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Theresa, I think changing us requires stepping out of our comfort zones, and that can be scary. But God is faithful no matter our circumstances or our heart situation. 🙂

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  8. I do not know what I woud do,
    I do not know what I would be
    without the soul-fix Krazy Glue
    from a monster or two or three.
    Muscles build against resistance,
    steel is hardened by the hammer,
    best rewards come through persistence,
    and best tattoos done in the slammer.
    Peter tried to walk the wave
    not on a pond, but in a gale,
    in the faith that Christ would save
    his silly ass if he should fail.
    Sure, I know these days seem crappy;
    the bigger win, then, to be happy!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Thank you, Jeanne and Lisa. As always, Jeanne, your photos breathe hope. 🙂 And Lisa, that must have been so hard not being able to visit your son, even if he is grown. I hope he has recovered! This is so comforting – “God stays constant, never bending or breaking. And no matter how small or heavy the storms in our lives, He hears every prayer, every cry of our heart.” Thank you. Love and blessings of hope and peace to both of you!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Thank you for sharing your powerful story, Lisa. I hope your son is OK. You are so right, they still are our babies, even when they are grown men.

    I especially loved this question: “How many times have we asked God to change our circumstances instead of changing us?” What a good question to ask ourselves!

    Thank you, Jeanne, for introducing us to Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Laurie, my son is doing well. Allowing God to change us requires a leap of faith that may be a struggle at times, but God’s plans and promises are always for our benefit, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

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  11. The storms of life will come and go. Sometimes storms seem like they will last forever. Thank you for the reminder to ask God to change me instead of me always asking Him to change situations.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I understand how storms can seem like they go on for such a long time. A handful of years ago, I went through a storm that lasted two years with wave after wave battering my heart, but through it all, God remained faithful and I came out stronger for it. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  12. I’m so thankful that the Spirit brings us songs in the night, songs in the daylight, that turn our heart’s focus back to the Lord. I find myself singing outloud / offkey more and more.

    I hope both your families are well, ladies …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Linda, I’m a member of the Joyful Noise choir. While I love to sing, I don’t sing well…or on-key. But God loves to hear us worship Him. I’m so thankful for the musical groups with their amazing talents whom we can worship with through song.

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  13. This is a beautiful post, Lisa! As soon as I saw the title I thought of the Casting Crowns song, which I love. I also have a bit of a fear of high winds, but it’s comforting to know that even when God doesn’t calm our storms (literal or metaphorical) that he is there and that often these can be the times he is at work in us.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. “How many times have we asked God to change our circumstances instead of changing us?” Exactly, Lisa. I’ve pleaded, “End the pandemic, Lord!” Perhaps I should be asking, “What’s the lesson You have for me, Lord?”

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Shirlee, this pandemic has been life-changing, for sure. By refocusing our perspective, we can see what God is doing in our hearts and in our lives…and come out even stronger for it.

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  16. The same rain that nourishes us and replenishes the earth…is sometimes allowed by God to become a storm. God sends them both – and both can help us grow. Even flourish. I hope that your son was not in the hospital long and that he is doing fine now.

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    1. Jennifer, God does send both kinds of rain, physically and metaphorically. 🙂 It’s kind of amazing how God can use each kind of rain to help us flourish. Lisa’s son is doing much better.

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  17. Thanks for sharing your story, Lisa. I can’t imagine a child in the hospital without being allowed to visit. I’ve never liked storms. So grateful the Lord either calms the storm or His child. Hope your son is better now and has recovered.

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    1. Karen, I’m with you. It would be so difficult not being able to visit a child in the hospital. Storms always leave me unsettled too. I hope you’re seeing God’s hand working in the storm you’ve been walking through.

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  18. Hi Lisa! What a treat to read your words today. These words right here —> Worrying wasn’t going to change any of those circumstances. But praising God would chase away the fear — really encouraged me. I have spent more time with worship music playing in the background than usual.

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  19. Lisa, Psalm 121 is one of my favorites … so comforting, especially now. I’ll be looking forward to reading more of your thoughts here each month. (I hope you are doing well too, Jeanne.) 🙂

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