I woke up singing I’m Still Stand’n by The Altar Billies, as I thought about the events of this past week, the years, and looking into the unknown future.
I’m still stand’n Trouble up ahead, Look’n pretty bad
I’m still stand’n Storm clouds are near, It’s gonna be fierce I’m still stand’n
When all hope is lost, And it seems like the end
Salvation is near, With the stretch of your hand
Thought that I would break But I’m still stand’n
Showdown at dusk, I’ll do what I must I’m still stand’n
I hear the spitfire, come’n down to the wire I’m still stand’n
Though darkness may fall, And evil descend I’ll hold my ground,
With all the strength that I have Thought I was had But I’m still stand’n
Oh – If I’m in for a fight, All I can do is hold on tight
Oh looks like the end of the line, I pray I make it out alive
Wind’s kick’n in, Tear’n through my skin But I’m still stand’n
Hurricane is here, I’m in for it I fear But I’m still stand’n
When the will to survive, Is all that you have
In this cruel world, That you’ll never understand
Might lose or win But I’m still stand’n
Come’n at me again But I’m still stand’n
Weak as I am I’m still stand’n
It is absolutely true that only by the grace of God any of us remain standing through the storms of life. Sometimes, it is more of a clinging onto the Lord, grasping, face down in the mud, just waiting for the sun to reappear. Much like the hurricane that battered the Texas coast, the buildings that stood firm and the trees that did not topple, did so because their foundation was strong, their roots were deep. We too must root ourselves to the One who is the foundation stone, the Rock. He is the anchor for our souls.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Physically, we may come out scarred from the battles that we encounter in life, be it literal scars from a back surgery, long awaited, or emotional scars from a personal crisis, yet, spiritually, we are stronger through Christ Jesus. We are weak, yet He is strong. We may at times sink beneath the waves, in fear and doubt, yet He is always with us.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).
None of us know when the next trial will come, so take the time while the sun is still out, to fortress your soul. Don’t turn to God when life gets tough, but rather be in fellowship with Him, deepening your friendship with Him, strengthen your faith, so when the storm hits, and it absolutely will hit, you are ready to hunker down and rest in the knowledge that the sovereign God, who spoke the universe into existence and also rebuked the storm on the Sea of Galilee, is the Lord over your life as well.