Streams in a Desert

Joining Holley Gerth

I wasn't sure if I'd write this.  It all seems overwhelming and then fear began to loom so very large.  But then slowly they trickled in....post after post...others that were battling this fear too.  You are not alone...
A week ago I had a dream.  Snow.  And I laughed about it because it was so real, but even with super cold weather this January, still, snow? This is the Alabama/Florida line.  Snow is not what we are known for.  This past month has brought many changes.  It has challenged me beyond all I have ever know.  And that is saying a lot.  It seemed each week brought something.  Cold weather, leaky pool, frozen water, heater not working properly.....day after day, one thing then another.  Each time taught me something new.  So Monday when we got the news of an arctic winter storm coming, it really didn't register with me.  School on Tuesday was cancelled, and maybe for a couple more.  I thought seriously??  But by 1 pm we had dropping temps and freezing rain and I was glad to be on my way home.  The rains came down and so did the temps.  And I was fearful.  Because I'm on my own a little bit.  And I'm the one the kids are depending on.  Me. A grown up. This can't be real......

All the little mishaps of the past few weeks taught me what to do as the storm grew more and more.  Cover the pipes, wash things in stages to keep water moving, turn the heat to emergency heat...the heat pump outside was frozen and the heat strips would do just fine, as late as possible run water, but into the pool. The level was low anyways, set my alarm for every two hours to check on things.  And then the power went out....9:30 pm, so we all go to bed.  I call it in and we do what we can...go to sleep and wait it out.  I got up and checked every two hours...still no power and my dreams are not comforting me, so I pray.  Thank you for my really warm bed and comforter.  We are safe, we have water and we are going to be ok.  Thankful, thankful, thankful....and beautiful power came back to us around 3 am.

Last Friday, it sleeted.  I smiled.  I thought what a beautiful answer from the Lord.  But unknown to me, that was just the beginning.  This morning I woke up to snow.  SNOW.  Frozen everywhere.  Roads closed, the whole earth still.  I had just been praying about how fabulous it would be to have a day where I could sit and read and not feel rushed.  The weight of that settled in on me.  We went through a really scary night.  But He was with us.  He made me able.  He prepared me and I did all I knew to do, even if I did it afraid.  The words pressed in so deeply.  Is anything too hard for me?  I will stop heaven and earth to make you understand I AM GOD.  I whispered dreams to you and I mean what I say.  Snow in Alabama.  Answered prayers.  The night was so very long, but joy in the morning.  The sun has finally peaked through.  Blue skies took my breath away this afternoon.  Blue skies and snow.  He's all around listening to the tinniest of prayers, even when they come in the form of sighs and tears and footsteps made forward even though they are much afraid.  Because they are not made alone.  He will not leave.  He will not forsake. No never.  Not for a moment.  Thankful.