Black fury

I was never a soldier in war. I do have a small feel for what they experience however; as I have been shot at on two separate occasions. It is a hair-raising fearful experience to hear bullets zinging by knowing that the next one just might mean “lights out”. For the rest of my life I will never forget that eerie sound of bullets zinging by my body. I can only imagine what our brave soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan experience and my hat is off to them.

I was thinking about our soldiers this morning and praying for their safety and as I reviewed my prayer list I could not help but notice a haunting similarity of their plight to a situation that I am currently experiencing. Recently many dark things have happened to close family and friends of mine. My Father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is having a difficult time as he experiences rapid deterioration of his health due to this insidious disease’s progression; a friend recently tragically lost two close family members with another seriously injured in a freak car crash; another friend had a member of his immediate family diagnosed with an incurable disease that, (barring a miracle), will end his life; another friend’s wife is undergoing major surgery today for cancer, (please pray for her), and if that is not enough their brand new grandbaby will soon have to undergo serious major surgery.

All of this reminds me of bullets zinging and whistling by my head. I am at a point whereby I am wondering what else can possibly go wrong and then something does. All of this heartache and trouble surrounds me like a dark menacing cloud. I pray that it does not get any closer and that it will soon clear up and the sun will shine again. It reminds me of bullets zinging by getting closer and closer with every shot.

My wife and I have been heavily involved in estate planning for the past several months. It is a difficult process to think about one’s own demise and how to take care of the loved ones who will be left behind. During this process I was taking inventory of my life’s work and what I will leave behind for my heirs. I was trying to ascertain what I treasure the most. I thought to myself, “If I could leave my heirs just one thing, what would it be?” It would not be real estate, or stocks or bonds; or my cars, my art collection or my boats and fishing equipment; nor would it be the God of this world “cash”. If it were within my power, I would leave them the gift of “peace” in their lives.

Unfortunately I can leave them the other stuff, but I cannot spare them tragedy, grief, or sorrow, nor can I leave them peace, as that can only come from God and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Even when the black menacing clouds and the terrible storms of life rain down on us with a fury straight out of Hell, we can still know peace through every minute of its fury, provided we know Jesus as our Savior. Yes we will still grieve, but God will be right there with us comforting us every minute of every hour and His incredible peace that is beyond human comprehension will surround us and comfort us.

The Holy Spirit, which the Bible states lives inside every Christian, is referred to in the Bible as the Comforter. Let Him comfort your broken heart today and enjoy His peace that is free just for the asking. Please take a moment wherever you are and pray for the aforementioned people and others who are experiencing their own battles and ask God to comfort them and to remove fear from their hearts and bring peace to their countenance as they fight through their battles. The tender love of Jesus can heal all kinds of heartache if you will just open your heart to Him. There should never be a reason to be afraid, or worried, or stressed out when one puts their complete faith in Him. Turn it all over to Him right now wherever you are sitting and know His peace

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you. My
peace I give to you, not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.