“A Break in the Storm” July Blog Post By: Wendy Aguiar

Storms often batter the terrain without mercy. Or so it seems. The pandemic may have upended our lives and triggered suffocating anxiety in the stress-saturated atmosphere that we call “The New Normal.” There is no denying the reality that we are experiencing. Yet, every storm has some ebb and flow and to be honest, no storm is relentless. There are moments that we miss. Moments of calm. Moments of God’s merciful intervention. Moments of a break in the storm. A lull. The secret place where God’s presence is palpable.

I see colleagues on social media making good use of a break in the storm as they travel to less “storm-ravaged” areas to make some unmasked memories with family before returning to the COVID-19 hotspot of South Florida. As restrictions loosened and some made trips to the beach or the local salon, others may have chosen to cautiously wait out the storm at home, only to be inundated with more bad news: there is a resurgence!

Emotions are not a trustworthy indication of storm-readiness. There is an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion everywhere. Right now, our world is experiencing concurrent storms that make it easy to lose focus. We wonder which battles are worth fighting with so many competing priorities. People are suffering and it is a challenge to remain positive. In spite of this, God’s promises are constant and He is an ever-present help. He alone knows the timeline of this storm, but He always uses storms to bring about a greater good and storms often reveal our character.

There is usually a calm before a storm just as there are merciful breaks between the heaviest rain bands in a hurricane, such as when the eye passes overhead. God is provident and always allows us time to regroup, but it is up to us to embrace those moments of peace. Instead of focusing on the onslaught, choose to be purposeful about chasing serenity. You can find it in the most unexpected places like a sunrise on a beach that is still open. Or with your Bible and a cup of coffee at a nearby park. You might find someone with a tangible need and choose to invest your time in being God’s hand extended to that person; this distraction can be a welcome break during your own storm. The next time you recognize a break in the storm, embrace it!

1 Corinthians 10:13 The Passion Translation (TPT)

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”