A Victorious Life in the Midst of the Storm
By Terri Camp
Added Sunday, September 02, 2007
Even the boat upon which Jesus himself slept was met with a tumultuous storm. But what was the reaction of our Lord in that situation. Did he say, "What? Storm? There is no storm!"? No -- He was resting.
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When I first became acquainted with the idea of living a victorious life it was shortly after hearing a sermon preached in which the pastor said if you are sick, you must tell yourself that you are not sick.
Now, I suppose to the average person that was living a victorious life. I thought the guy was simply living in denial. My next thought was that when I am sick, it is the only time I actually get to rest. Why in the world would I want to walk around sick telling myself that I'm really not sick?
The pastor went on to explain that this (denial I assumed) was the way to a victorious life in Christ.
I decided to go ahead and give denial a try. Let me tell you, it was horrible. Within a week I was coughing, sneezing, had a stuffy head, and all I wanted to do was rest. But I could not, because I wasn't sick! I was, I figured out, perfectly healthy. Eventually I did get better, but it didn't really matter, because I wasn't really sick. Now if my coughing, sneezing and stuffy head had in fact existed, I could have prayed, been healed, or been allowed to let the sickness run its course, and then God would have gotten all the glory for my condition.
What I realized through all of this is that living a victorious life does not mean that we live as if everything is peachy keen, when it is not.
I thought perhaps churches who practiced denial should state that in their doctrinal statement. Just so we know that's what they're all about. Or perhaps there should be a whole group called "living the denied life?"
Desiring to want to live a victorious life I left my life of denial and decided to pursue God instead. Rather than telling myself that my dishwasher was not broken, I would ask God to show me Him in the circumstance. Rather than walking around with pneumonia, I asked God to bring someone in my path at the doctor's office who I could minister to. Rather than pretending that I was a perfect Christian, I asked God to use my weaknesses to help strengthen others.
What I discovered in my pursuit of God was not that I could deny sin, trouble, and sickness in my life. What I discovered is that my God is way bigger than all of it. It doesn't mean that He will make my life smooth sailing. Even the boat upon which Jesus himself slept was met with a tumultuous storm. But what was the reaction of our Lord in that situation. Did he say, "What? Storm? There is no storm!" No! He was resting. When the storm came Jesus rested.
Oh how often when a storm comes I desperately want it to end. I don't want to live in the midst of a storm. I live in tornado alley and when the tornado watches come on the television, I become glued to it, even if it's bedtime. The last thing I can do is rest!
But Jesus rested in the midst of a storm. Why did He rest? I believe it was because he knew that storms pass, but also that when the storms come, and we rest through them, the glory of the Lord is magnified even more.
It's not about living in denial, but about knowing where to place your faith. Can I will myself to be well? I suppose I could. But how would that possibly give glory to God?
Get out of denial and into the storm, and there you will find the victorious life.
In addition to devoting herself to her eight children she home schools, Terri is the author of 3 excellent books! Visit her Web site at www.ignitethefire.com or e-mail her at terri@ignitethefire.com.