“When you pass through waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.” Isaiah 43:2
When my children were little, I could not even fathom the thought of them not always being with me. However, after raising three children, my husband and I learned that God slowly prepares parents to be empty nesters.
For me, I found that high school, after-school sports, and summer jobs began to impede upon our children’s time at our dinner table and/or family events. Once they continued on to college, it used to hurt my heart to walk past their empty (and clean!) bedroom, but I found peace in knowing that they would return on college breaks and/or holidays! But then came the out of state job offers, and I knew that we had definitely entered into adulthood and a new chapter of our relationship.
So when the phone call occurred a few weeks ago stating, “I have a job in New Buffalo, Michigan, next week, do you want to meet me there?" My bags were packed before the phone call concluded!
It was a short, but precious visit two days before school started, but on the way home, God orchestrated a powerful reminder of His faithfulness and His presence that helped me put this school year into perspective!
The three-hour car ride home gave me plenty of time to think and pray about many things, especially the new school year that was quickly approaching. However, about an hour into the drive, the most beautiful and vibrant rainbow appeared in the sky ahead of me, as if to say, “Don’t worry about anything; I’ve got you!” I actually felt myself smile and relax. However, the peaceful feeling quickly vanished as the sky began to darken with fury, and instantly, I found myself driving through one of the most intense and torrential downpours of my life! Immediately, car speeds reduced, semi trucks engaged their hazard lights and pulled off to the side of the road, and many chose just to get out of the storm by exiting I-94. However, all of those solutions presented their own set of dangers, so I decided to stay the course and slowly continue on, gripping the steering wheel and praying for the storm to end. It took about thirty minutes, but the storm finally subsided, and once I was able to relax and reflect, my heart was so touched when I recalled God’s kindness. Right before that intense and frightening portion of the journey, God gave me a sweet reminder that He was right next to me and helping me get through that storm!
During this school year, each of us will face storms of many kinds. Some will be literal, and some will be life storms, consisting of difficult problems, challenges, or circumstances. They will come in various forms and sizes, but even in the darkest portion of the storm, God will never be absent! He will always be right there with us, encouraging us that He’s got us! However, when we face these storms, we want to make it a habit to turn and rely on Him, because His ways are always better!
The storm may be real, but so is the promise behind the rainbow… and so is the God who is in control of both!
Have a wonderful week trusting Him!
Mrs. Palka
P.S. Last summer, thousands of people endured terrible storms and floods. Lutheran World Relief is a Christian organization that traveled to Texas and the various affected areas to provide relief to those victims. One of the numerous ways that they provided help to victims is by distributing hygiene kits. However, they went through so many last summer that they need to replenish their stock as hurricane season is quickly approaching. As a result, our first school-wide "Outreach Project" is to assemble hygiene kits and donate them to Lutheran World Relief. More information can be found in the article below. All kits need to be assembled by October 10th as Lutheran High School Westland is delivering them for us.
Looking forward to being a blessing to those in need!