I know that it looked like your storm was coming to an end and as soon as you stepped out, without your umbrella, the clouds begin to roll in again; but I’m here to tell you that even though you may not have a physical umbrella to cover your head from the rain that’s pouring, you still have a spiritual one that you never have to remember to grab. See, God hasn’t forgotten about you simply because it seems like you’ve been under the storms clouds for a while now, so hold on. Yea, the clouds of depression, having more bills than money, more sick days than well ones, death keeps taking the folks you love, folks on the job acting slick slow and the kids are constantly messing up; BUT GOD! I’ve said this before: The storm you’re in isn’t to punish you; but the rain is simply washing off the dirt that has been thrown on you from haters, it’s washing off the mud that covered you when folk drug your name from here to there, it’s washing off the blood from being stabbed in your back, it’s washing off all of the signs that folk have placed on you calling you this & that and it’s preparing you to enjoy the sun that’ll shine once the storm is over. Don’t you realize that just because you can’t see other folk struggles it doesn’t mean they aren’t going through? If I looked like the things I’m going through I’d be tore up, hair all over my head, shoes raggedy, pants with holes in them and an overall mess. Just because your account is in the negative, your cable might be off, you got a cut-off notice for your lights and your rent is late, you don’t have to look like it. Deuteronomy 31:8 says “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Stop thinking that just because folks are being blessed they don’t have a stormy season because either they’re going through now, about to go through or just coming out of one and if they tell you that all their days are sunny; they’re a lie and the truth isn’t anywhere in them! Stop fretting because baby you shouldn’t look like your problems! Stop worrying about how folks look at you just because you may need food stamp assistance because most of them need them too. Stop being concern if folks will talk about you if you catch the bus because most of them are hiding their car now from the repo man. Stop catering to folks because they surely won’t cater to you! Ok, so you’re in your storm; it’ll end sooner or later. Baby, while you are trying to conform to folks somebody you know, that’s probably close to you, doesn’t even think you deserve the job you got, but look at God. Somebody you know is still trying to figure out how you got approved for the car you got, but look at God working. Somebody is wondering how you made it through cancer with the life you lived when others, they feel are better, died but look at God working this. Somebody is questioning how you manage to still have money left over from paycheck to paycheck when all you do is shop but look at God working this thang! Somebody is even trying to see how God could have picked somebody like you, who used to be on drugs, dancing in night clubs and sleeping with anyone who would lie flat; clean you up and now you’re the minister of music at church but LOOK AT GOD WORKING THIS THANG OUT! See, while they are trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out. While YOU are trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out. While they are counting your blessings, they are simply adding theirs to yours. While they are counting you out, God is simply adding pegs to your footstool and lifting you higher! So go on and tell them to talk about you, lie on you, scandalize your name, try to ruin your relationship, and keep on digging that ditch for you because when it’s all over with God has you covered so all is surely well! Because when I no longer look at what I used to be or how I use to look, I see how I was meant to be. I am who God has made me, so I will pray every day “Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word,” Psalm 119:37. Sooner or later God is going to turn this thang around for you! All you have to do is say YES LORD! See, when you give yourself and your problems over to God, he will work it out for you; sooner or later. Not all your days will be sunny but even on your bad days; your rejoicing will still be the same! God has this thang worked out but you have to believe it. You may not be where you want to be and you may not even have what you think you should have but hold on because sooner or later, things will have to get better!
Lakisha, the Author 