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“Whether or not storms come, we cannot choose.”

A thought by Max Lucado (2012-02-06) from his book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (p. 72). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

We had a major storm here in sunny California last Friday.  Earlier in the week, it was beautiful.  I loved it.  I didn’t choose what happened on Friday.  But it still came.

Max says, “Whether or not storms come, we cannot choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.” 

He goes on, “I found a direct example of this truth while sitting in my cardiologist’s office. My heart rate was misbehaving, taking the pace of a NASCAR race and the rhythm of a Morse code message. So I went to a specialist. After reviewing my tests and asking me some questions, the doctor nodded knowingly and told me to wait for him in his office.

“I didn’t like being sent to the principal’s office as a kid. I don’t like being sent to the doctor’s office as a patient. But I went in, took a seat, and quickly noticed the doctor’s abundant harvest of diplomas. They were everywhere, from everywhere. One degree from the university. Another degree from a residency. The third degree from his wife. (I’m pausing to see if you caught the joke...)

“The more I looked at his accomplishments, the better I felt. I’m in good hands. About the time I leaned back in the chair to relax, his nurse entered and handed me a sheet of paper. ‘The doctor will be in shortly,’ she explained. ‘In the meantime, he wants you to acquaint yourself with this information. It summarizes your heart condition.’

“I lowered my gaze from the diplomas to the summary of the disorder. As I read, contrary winds began to blow. Unwelcome words like atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia, embolic stroke, and blood clot caused me to sink into my own Sea of Galilee. What happened to my peace? I was feeling much better a moment ago. So I changed strategies. I counteracted diagnosis with diplomas. In between paragraphs of bad news, I looked at the wall for reminders of good news. That’s what God wants us to do.”

Max then says, “His call to courage is not a call to naïveté or ignorance. We aren’t to be oblivious to the overwhelming challenges that life brings. We’re to counterbalance them with long looks at God’s accomplishments. ‘We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away from it’ (Heb. 2: 1 NASB). Do whatever it takes to keep your gaze on Jesus.”  Do whatever it takes to keep your gaze on Jesus.


So, what are you going through today?

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