My Storm

Have you ever felt abandoned? Have you ever had the feeling that every wall in every room in the house was caving in on you? It’s these issues of life called storms that have a way of showing up in our lives, without invitation and without warning. They come at a time when we feel like we just can’t take another blow. There’s good news though. With every storm comes a lesson that will either make or break us. But because we belong to God, we know that whatever the storm, it was surely sent to make us.

We all talk about our great faith and how much of it we have until we are forced to use it. When in fact active faith is exactly what it takes to survive any storm. I remember my storm. That was a defining moment in my life because from this storm, which I am about to share, has come a new and better understanding of who I am and whose I am. Today, my relationship with the Lord is so much richer and deeper and getting deeper everyday because of the new storms that pop up from time to time. Please, be blessed and encouraged by My Storm.

I remember it like it was yesterday. June 2000 as I sat in my office in Columbia awaiting test results from the doctor. I told myself that all I had was arthritis or something. The previous November I began having all types of joint aches and some days I could not even squeeze a tube of toothpaste. I didn't get alarmed, I just attributed it to the years of weight training and as I got older I figured it caught up with me. As time passed, the joint pain got too intense and I suffered through seven months of symptoms before I took the advice of a dear friend and went to the doctor and had blood tests done. Isn’t it is amazing how a 10-minute telephone call can change your life forever?

I can remember hearing the doctor give me the “good news” about not having arthritis but quickly approaching was the tidal wave that would swallow me into the abyss of panic.

“Your test results came back positive for Lupus”. At that very moment I lost all reasoning. I could not hear another word the doctor said. After about 30 seconds I regained my composure and listened to his recommendations then I was advised to see a rheumatologist to find out what stage I was in.