Embracing the Unknown: Faith in the Storm
Thunderstorm season is upon us! The messy unknowns—will the power go out? Do the flashlights still work? Will the wind topple a tree or the rain flood the basement? So much potential for chaos…and still, I love a good thunderstorm because I always find faith in the storm.
Childhood Wonder
Maybe a controversial idea given all the potential for messes, but I love them just the same. When I was young my sisters-from-another-mister (aka best friends) and I would pull open the blinds on the largest bedroom window and pretend to be storm watchers. I’m not sure the origins of this game, but we were obsessed. We’d watch lightning strike and count “Mississippis” until we heard the loud crack of thunder. Then we would shout and marvel at how close the lightning was to the house.
Passing It Down
It’s a small slice of my childhood that I bring to life with my own girls, starting with when they were itty bitty. We would throw open the curtains of the living room and drape ourselves over the back of the couch to watch the sky light up and listen for the loud booms.
I love that now as they are a bit older, they still stop what they are doing and gaze in wonder at the storms. Tonight was one of those nights: “Whoa…that was so cool” my littlest remarked at a particularly wicked purple-looking strike of lightning.
Chaos Made Cozy
A lot of kids are afraid of thunderstorms because of the loud noises and flashing lights. The unpredictability of when and what will happen next. My kids are enthralled by it because we’ve always been intentional in having fun with them during the thunderstorms.
Instead of cowering with them or comforting away their fears, we embraced the chaos and the crazy to make it fun. We focused their attention on how the strikes of lightning lit up the dark sky and made it change colors. If the power went out we lit candles and played board games.
The Life Lesson in the Lightning
Through our actions we’ve taught them that we can’t control what the storm does, but we can control how we act when we are in the storm. Such a beautiful and unintentional metaphor for life.
Between my childhood dreams of storm chasing and the desperate attempts to make a toddler excited (instead of terrified) for a storm, we created a foundation for our littles to take ownership over how unpredictable situations make them feel. We’ve tried hard to show them how to put their trust and faith in God. Faith in the storm, rooted in knowing God will pull us through.
Fear vs. Excitement
It makes me question where I can do a better job of viewing life’s storms with wonder instead of fear. Excitement and fear feels the same after all. Butterflies in your belly can signal both fear and excitement. Am I right?
I hope so because it is a constant question I ask my girls when their bodies are reacting. Brand new roller coaster jitters? Are you scared or are you excited? In your body they feel the same way. At least that’s what I tell them to offer a little extra courage to be brave.
Dancing Into Discomfort
Lately I’ve been trying to hype myself up with that same courage. Dance season just ended on our homefront which means the girls just wrapped on their summer showcase. I usually get nervous butterflies before my girls go on stage to perform, especially for their solos, but this year the butterflies were getting me for a whole different reason.
My husband convinced me to do the parent dance as a surprise for the kids. Butterflies galore. Because it was a surprise for all the kids, we didn’t get to practice on stage before the actual day of the show. So many unpredictabilities. The stage lights, much like lightning, were blinding. Listen, I’ve written about my introverted nature before and getting attention from a large crowd is not my sweet spot. It is so far out of my comfort zone that it’s not even funny. I knew I’d miss steps, but I chose to reframe my nerves as excitement—and let myself have fun.
A Flash of Joy
Instead of giving into fear, I gave myself over to the hype of finding my kids in the audience. I played up the choreography just for them. The joy and excitement on their faces was brighter than flashes of lightning and even the blinding stage lights. Focusing on the excitement helped melt away my anxiety (a battle I’ve fought before).
I let go of overthinking the moves and what-ifs about if (when) I messed up. Instead, I relished in surprising my girls and the bond we created with the other dance parents.
Faith in the Middle of the Storm
Anxiety tells us to obsess over the details, but faith tells us to have courage and be calm in the face of the storm. Reflecting on how we’ve raised little storm chasers helps me realize the way I should be viewing the thunderstorms in my life. Instead of panicking and reaching for the control that I certainly do not have, it is better to give in to the feelings. Because in my body, they feel the same. It’s my mind that decides whether I panic or press forward.
A Note to You, Wise Woman
Wise woman, I don’t know what storm you are facing right now in your life, but I want you to name the feelings they bring to your body. Is your stomach full of butterflies? Does it feel like you are at the peak of a rollercoaster, about to be launched down the first big hill? Are your palms sweaty? A little weak in the knees?
Now consider, are you nervous or are you excited? Because in my body they feel the same and it really comes down to how I frame it in my mind.
How many of the unknowns that you’re facing actually turn out to be something good? How many glimpses of light are flashing in your storm if you actually open your eyes?
What if, instead of leaning into fear, we lean into faith? Faith that the storm will pass and you will come out of it on the other side. Stronger. Wiser. Bolder.
- What storm are you in right now? What could change if you opened the blinds and watched for the light instead of hiding from the thunder?
My Current Storm
I still struggle with the unpredictabilities in this life. My current storm? Who I am outside of my roles as a professional, a mom, and a wife. Not making that version of me a priority. With my husband on day work this summer and me working from home, I am maxed out in all those roles. I’m at a loss for where to find the time for myself. Right now my solution is waking up at 5:15. It comes early but at least it is giving me the space to be alone-something an introvert needs very much.
It’s hard to give myself that space, but every early morning is a small act of resistance against the guilt that says I shouldn’t.
Lightning as a Guide: Faith in the Storm
That’s the storm I face daily: carving out time that’s mine and mine alone. Every time the guilt creeps in when I dare to rest, I throw open the blinds and let the light in. Because I’m learning that I don’t have to wait for the storm to pass to find peace. Sometimes, the lightning is the most beautiful part.
When the Storms Are Too Big
I know full and well that every storm is different, that is the unpredictability of nature and life. Some storms truly destroy parts of you. I’m not telling you to be grateful for those storms, not in the least. There are some storms too grave to simply just ‘look on the sunny side.’
It’s possible to experience happiness in the middle of sadness. And it’s also okay to feel sadness during times of joy (just ask any brand new mama). Our emotions are layered and complex. So, wise woman, I don’t know what storm you are facing right now, but I do know this: God will not leave you in it.
If you look, there are glimmers of life to remind you not to stay in the destruction. Look for the helpers. Lean into the light. Above all, have faith that God will pull you from destruction.
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