Stepping Stones: Would You Rather Have a Flashlight or a Lighthouse?

Transformational Thought

We all experience storms in our lives. Maybe you are currently in the midst of a storm...maybe multiple storms. Unfortunately, storms are a certainty in life and we often have little control over that. But we do have all the power over how we react to these storms, with peace or panic. Even though uncomfortable, scary, and potentially dangerous, storms are tremendous opportunities to learn a lot about ourselves.

One key lesson is, "where do I get my confidence, guidance, or hope from?" Put another way, "When I am in a storm at sea, do I want a small flashlight, or do I want the brightest Lighthouse? When we get upset in a difficult situation, it is because we are usually getting our confidence from ourselves, or sometimes from others. A constant battle goes on inside our heart. We strive to be independent, master of our destiny, take care of our own needs, and not be reliant on anyone else. This protects us from being hurt, let down by others, and just seems more efficient to cut others out of the loop when I need something. But this strategy breeds a false sense of confidence, a reliance on myself, my abilities, my assets, or what I can use from others.

You see, my skills are like a flashlight, God is a Lighthouse. Instead of getting my confidence from me and relying on myself, God desires me to turn to Him, accept His protection and provision for me, and let Him grow us. He will grow us quicker, more efficiently, and with less pain than we can grow ourselves. We really need to get our confidence to handle the many everyday situations from knowing who God is, what His promises are, and what His word teaches. When we see situations and act based on our confidence in God, life, and especially storms, are so much easier to handle and actually become tremendous growth experiences.

Looking back, I see the major storms in my life actually changed my direction, pushing me onto a better path of becoming Christ-like and helping me develop the Mind of Christ. More importantly, these storms provided the opportunity to look for and find God as my Lighthouse, where the only real and ultimate safety and guidance is for me, and all of us.

Today, as a believer you will find that your ultimate Lighthouse, God, will not only show you your path forward step by step, but God will also lead you to a place of refuge, a place of shelter to endure your storm. Meet today's storm...or your next storm (for surely they will come) with peace, not panic. Take the opportunity to look for your personal Lighthouse of guidance and sanctuary in His perfect and infinite promises and character, not in your own finite and imperfect resources.

Prayer
Father God, when I meet the storms of life, help me to go through them with peace, not panic. I know that to get to where You want to take me, I must go through certain storms. In Your wisdom, You designed the storms to push me to You, to know You and Your loving provision, shelter, and calm. It is not in the calms of life where I realize that I will not go under, but during the storms. Allow me to get my confidence, hope, and assurance from You, and not me, because I know I am limited, weak, and not capable of controlling everything like You can. Thank You for being my Lighthouse during the storms. Thank You that during all of life's storms there is a perfect place of refuge...a fortress of Divine grace to see me through. I pray in the name of the one endured the greatest storm so I could have eternal safety, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver me.
Psalm 91:1-3

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:20