this too shall pass

In the middle of the storm, it seems the rain and winds will never cease. The dark clouds are so thick that to imagine a clear sky seems impossible. The only thing that reminds us of the storm ending is the last storm. We know from experience, that when the last storm clouds came through, they did not stay forever. It is our experience that reminds us that we will make it through. If we never saw a storm cloud, we would never realize that the clouds pass.

It makes me thankful for the storms I have had in my life. I have been through things that I felt would never leave. I have had those days when I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. BUT I have always known, that somehow, the storm would pass. Today, I have been humming this song...okay, I'm lying...I have been belting it out at times..."This too shall pass...This too shall pass...This too shall pass...This TOO shall pass." Sometimes, this is the only hope we have to hold onto. The fact that this will pass. I am reminded of the Scripture that says we will not be given a temptation above what we are able to handle.

My first summer on my own in Florida was the summer that we were hit by multiple hurricanes. The first hurricane came through and I recall huddling in my closet with Chloe for 12 hours. We just slept and listened to the storm. There was no power. We had no phones. I was scared, but had no choice but to stick it out through the storm. When the winds stopped and the sun came out, I walked outside to find a completely different scene than when I had first huddled into my closet. Trees were down, cars were crushed, carports were on the lawn, shingles and parts of the roof were in the pool and debris was everywhere. You could barely walk through the driveway. As terrible as it was, I remember a sense of relief. A sense of confidence because I had weathered the storm. I made it through 3 more hurricanes that year- none as rough as the first. Or maybe...maybe it was because I knew I would make it through. I'm not sure.

That is how I feel now. I know that I have felt the fear before of thinking that I wouldn't be able to make it through my hard times. They seemed too great and too overwhelming. I also know that the older I get and the more experiences I am lucky to have, I grow in strength and confidence. Not because the storms are any easier, but because I KNOW that the storm will pass. I know that if I endure, I will be able to look back when the clouds clear and be thankful for the courage I had. Hard times are inevitable. They will come. They will beat us down and knock the wind out of our sail- time and time again. But no matter what happens or how long the storm stays, it will ALWAYS, ALWAYS pass.