After The Storm Is Over
It’s morning and the storm is over. I awoke several times during the night to the howling wind, praying my usual prayer when there’s a storm on the farm; that trees would not come down on fences, buildings or animals, and that we don’t lose power.
In my oftentimes vivid imagination, I can see a tree taking down a length of fence and the animals escaping the safety of their pasture going out into the torrential rain or snow and darkness. I imagine a tree falling down on a barn roof with my sheep and Livestock Guards Dogs pinned inside under the fallen roof. Then I pray more.
But it’s morning now and the storm is over. The sun is shining, and the temperature is warm for Ohio in March. There’s flooding everywhere — our lane is impassable — but the slight breeze and sunshine will take care of that by the end of the day.
I do a quick check of the fence lines and buildings and as I walk the pastures, I thank God that all is well. Only 1 tree is down, and it landed on a sturdy wood fence post, just mere inches from the fence. All the animals are accounted for., the sheep are out in their pasture without a care in the world. Another storm is over. Another crisis averted as I go on to the next thing on my long “to do” list.
Just like that my prayer of thanksgiving stops. A few words of thanks and I’m on my way to that next thing on my list. While I spent a lot of the night praying for safety, I can’t say the same thing about the length of my praise and thanksgiving for what didn’t happen.
I know there are Bible verses that say I should pray without ceasing, I often allow those verses or parts of verses to supersede all else when I’m going through difficult times or short-lived circumstances. I have no problem praying continually, it’s become a way of life for me. However, there are also other Bible verses that compel me to thank and praise God too — in all and every situation and, continually. Truth be told, that’s much tougher for me to do.
I have gone out after a storm on the farm to find a tree has taken a length of fence down and I grumble and complain as I scramble to get animals to other pastures before they can escape. Grumbling and complaining is my first “go to” response many times. It’s not like I automatically think to thank my Good Shepherd for the downed fence. How can I be thankful for that? After all, I had prayed that trees would not come down on fences, buildings or animals. But 1 did.
Thanking and praising Him for the downed fence seems a bit hypocritical to me since I certainly am not thankful for it. It causes a lot of extra work, and I don’t need that. Ever. But as I pray my way through my grumbling and complaining I get a different perspective on the downed tree and damaged fence, and I realize it could have been much worse. My sheep could have gotten out in the night and that in itself could be disastrous, but that particular pasture is also next to our pond. Sheep and water don’t mix well. It’s why the Good Shepherd leads His sheep “beside still waters”.
When I give prayer and praise equal time in my heart and mind my life is more balanced and also more honoring to my Good Shepherd. The more I give Him the glory and honor He deserves in all circumstances, the more likely I am to pray and thank and praise Him.
It’s morning now and the storm is over. The sun is shining, and the temperature is warm for Ohio in March. There’s flooding everywhere — our lane is impassable — but the slight breeze and sunshine will take care of that by the end of the day.
The storm is over and this time I choose to spend more time praising my Good Shepherd for the things that could have happened but didn’t. Hopefully I can also remember to praise Him the next time things happen that I prayed would not.
Jackie Deems copyright 2023
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I Thessalonians 5:16–17
