When Everything's Out of Control...

I sat at the ocean's edge. Listening. Watching. A large seaweed washed ashore. The waves crashed, engulfing...moving it along the sand. The larger waves forcing it in, then pulling it back out to sea. Rolling...pulling...pushing, at the mercy of the ocean.

Your life can often feel helpless like that. Each day bringing new trials...often leaving raw emotions in its wake. You push through the day but never truly feel at peace in the moment; right where you are. Your strength and ability falters. Hope threatens to drown into hopelessness. Faith to faithlessness. 

Life...an ocean of wave after wave. You try to catch your breathe just in time for the next set. In the midst you begin to realize you've tried everything in your own strength. Nothing has changed. Sinking deeper you begin to pray, "Lord, I need you." A simple prayer of letting go. A broken cry from a heart in chains...drowning.  In your deepest hour of need you're drawn to God. The empty space only He can fill.

Gathering your last ounce of strength you open the Bible, Talk to me Lord, I need you."

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD." 

The Lord's been waiting for you to let go. PEACE. Even though the waves may continue to crash...the Peace of Jesus floods in. His love fills. It's a moment by moment, day by day prayer. Letting the Lord move and work. With each answered prayer, healing begins. Faith builds. Trust is restored. 

Life's waves may come, but God's love is bigger than the waves. Turn the uncontrollable over to God to work all things out for His good and perfect will. Let go. The Lord says to you today, "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD..." Psalm 46:10

"He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:29

Do You Feel Like Your Drowning?

Photo & Story by: Lisa Petrarca

Do you ever find yourself paddling along through life, everything seems to be going nicely, no problems or troubles and then...WHAM...all of a sudden a huge wave comes crashing down on you? It pushes you under, you begin to flip, spin and roll to the bottom. You become disoriented unable to figure out which way to swim. All of a sudden you look for the light. You instinctively know that is the way to safety and the air you so desperately need. 

Frantically you paddle, relief sweeping over you as the light becomes brighter and you release the last bit of air left in your lungs. You know that once you reach the surface, you'll be filled up with new, clean air and safe once again.

Our everyday lives can often feel like we're being hit by a wave and forced under. Do you sometimes find yourself gasping for air as you try to overcome stress, worry, grief, heartache and disappointment?

You need to remember to "swim" toward the light. Don't continue to get tossed, hit, and held down by your troubles. Seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, "the Light." Let Him renew you with His life giving Spirit. Allow yourself to be brought into the safety of His embrace. Allow Him to carry you safely to the shore. He can fill you with a peace beyond your circumstances and give you renewed hope. Ask for help today. If you feel as though you're drowning...PRAY. Tell the Lord what you're feeling and ask for help to get through it. Allow Him into your everyday life. He is only a prayer away. Call out to your Savior...He will help you overcome it. Run towards His Light and allow Jesus Christ to fill your emptiness.  Find everything you've been searching for in Him.

"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." Psalm 89:9

^{~JESUS CALMS THE WAVES~ 
"}And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Mark 4:35-41

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

My Life Jacket Saved Me

My emotions began to flood my body, several waves of trouble crashed down on me. Every time I'd come up for air, a new one pounded me. During this time, I struggled to catch my breath, as I desperately reached for my 'life jacket' the Bible. I clung to it early in the morning, allowing God's words to keep me afloat. One thing after another attempted to sink me throughout the day. The waves continued to come, but my 'life jacket' was firmly in place. God's words were bigger than the waves of problems; His Truth, bigger than every fickle emotion which threatened to drown me.

As I learned to Pray through each sea of problems, I was overcome by an undeniable Peace. It seemed to stop the flood. It replaced the fear, doubt and anguish, with a feeling of comfort. Emotions are feelings and thoughts, not necessarily truth. When we allow our emotions to control us, we sink into a pool of despair. If you're feeling drowning affects, stop and pray. Open up God's written Word and put on His 'Life Jacket.' Establish a close, trusting relationship...allow Jesus Christ to rescue you!

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Lamentations 3:21-24

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:40

"The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple." Jonah 2:5-7

Reach Above Your Fear

Story by: Lisa Petrarca

Certain situations can bring fear; fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of being out of control, fear of feelings, fear of love, fear of never being loved, fear of something real or imagined.

Life can throw things at you. Unexpectedly, you find yourself thrust into a situation that has you asking, "How did I get here?"

We all have this feeling at one time or another...no one is immune to it, you can however, learn to move in the face of your fear. It's not easy...it's actually kept me immobile for years, wallowing in self doubt, afraid of failure and/or how I might be perceived by others. I didn't take the steps towards my dreams. I stopped writing. I let my dream fester inside, shoving it down, letting my fear control me instead of walking in the face of it.

I'm learning to turn to the Lord for help. Allowing Him to guide me through daily prayer & scripture study. When I am overwhelmed and frozen, I pray for His help. Sometimes I'm only able to take baby steps, learning each day to lay down my fear, and put my Faith in Him. To rise above it, to look at Jesus' example. Asking each morning to be filled up with Love, Peace, Faith, Wisdom, Guidance and Strength in the face of my fear.

Seek each day to finish the task He has put on your heart...seek the Lord and overcome your fear.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him my Savior and my God."
Psalm 42:11

"So do not fear, for I am with you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

"Have Faith in God," Jesus answered.
Mark 11:22

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31

FINDING THE FAITH

photo & story by: lisa petrarca

Why is it so hard to learn to walk by faith? Some days I do well and other days I have to get on my knees and stay there until the fear, anxiety and negative thoughts disappear. I've learned to pray through these things.

On those days, my prayers also need to continue throughout my day, with each unsettling encounter, with each self defeating thought, because there is an enemy who wants to bring me and you down. He wants to see us fail.

Prayer and the scriptures is how you defeat him. Just as Jesus did when He was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry, and satan came to tempt Him. Jesus came back at him with scriptures, quoting truth, quoting life sustaining wisdom, quoting His Father's words.

Jesus answered, "It is written: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" Matthew 4:19

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" Matthew 4:7

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, satan! For it is written: "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." Matthew 4:10

Are you able to do this? When negative thoughts are flooding your mind like a tidal wave, drowning your confidence and self worth, are you able to stop it? Are you reading the scriptures daily, absorbing all that God is trying to reveal to you? He has given you a lifeline, a safety net, a boat to help you reach the other side without drowning. Stop treading water, you will eventually begin to sink. Grab hold of God's life jacket. He has given you the answers to all your questions, just reach out, open the scriptures and pray today.

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Isaiah 32:17-18

O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2