It’s gonna shake..

I visualize this story with a drill instructor yelling in the face of a young man; some scenario about how, “You’re in a bunker! You’re buddy next you has been shot and needs medical NOW! Mortar rounds are striking all around you! Everything is shaking! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO!”.

Truth is, as I write this I’m sitting in a critical care hospital room looking at my 18 year-old son, the patient. He’s an athletic, active and talented young man and one of the three things I love most in this life. If I’m honest, his health is something that I took for granted. When what is perceived to be reality takes a hard turn, you realize how little control you have. In a word, Shook.

So this is my challege to you: Spend some time in thought or conversation about what you consider your foundation, your stabilizer, your anchor to be when life mixes in some unexpected turbulance. Do you have one or are you just going to wing it? Seriously, stop for a second and think about it. Call your wife, husband or your closest friend and talk about it. Take my word for it, you don’t want to be sitting in this chair grasping at straws, faking like you’re the anchor for everyone else when you’re being drug around yourself.

What are the options? Your own mental or physical strength? Another person? Your bank account? Stuff? On a surface level they all sound like viable options. “Hell yeah, I’ll just tough it out”. “(Insert name) will always be there for me. I can trust them with anything.” “I can buy my way out of anything.” Fatal flaw is, what happens when your anchor is the cause of your turbulence? You need something!

For me, it’s my faith. But, I want to be honest about it and what it looks like in my life. Three nights ago we prayed for my son. I prayed scripture straight from the book of James.

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.

James 5:14-15

Guess what? We’re still here… in a hospital. God and I have talked about my frustration with this a lot over the past couple days. However, the real truth is, I have to compare what I do know against what I don’t know. I don’t know the story that God is writing in the life of my son. I don’t know how He plans to use this illness to bring glory to himself and bless my son with a full life. I don’t know what this situation makes possible that wouldn’t have been possible without it. I do know God gave my son life and somehow loves him more than I do. It’s on that truth that I place my faith.

My final confession is sometimes even though I know and believe all those things, there are times that alone is not enough to bring me comfort. This is one of those times. You know who knows that? God! So he sends people. People who express the love and care he has for us.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

And that’s what he did. Calls, texts, prayers and visits, all bringing comfort. One visitor showed up at 10:00pm because in their words, “I haven’t figured out how to text a hug.”

Thats my hope for Firehouse Mission. To draw together a community of people who share in joy and shoulder the burdens of life, in and out of the fire service, together. One where all are welcomed, loved unconditionally and supported without question. Follow along, join with us and reach out if you need it.

So, what is it? What is your foundation, your stabilizer, your anchor when life mixes in some unexpected turbulence?

Love y’all

-jeff