What I learned in the middle of the ocean chasing Hurricane Matthew.  September 28, 2016, our family set out to meet the rest of our family on the Disney Fantasy Cruise ship to sail the Western Caribbean.  This was an adventure we have been planning for three (3) years.

The number one (1) reason I was looking forward to this trip.. No cell service.  My family would have to be unplugged for seven days… Thank you Hurricane Matthew for an extra day of being unplugged.

Hurricane Matthew, just passed through Jamaica, and we were cleared to make our port.  As we were approaching the port we entered through a gated access in the water.  The port was secure.  We walked towards the van that would take my family to our excursion outside the security of the gated port.

As we drove through Flamouth, I was reminded how easy it is to allow worry to rob me of my joy.  Our guide was talking about Jamaicans, and she made the statement, “In Jamaica, there are No Problems mon, Just Situations mon…”  The more I wrapped my mind around this statement the more I realized how many times I allow my thinking to limit my God.  The bible tells us in John 16:33; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  If we look at our trials, sorrow, disappointments through the eyes of the Lord we can always have hope.  When we look at trials, sorrow, disappointments, failures as “problems” there is no solution, but if we look at them as “situations” we know there is a solution.  We have a manual to navigate life, the Bible.  When we choose to see God in everything we have the ability to praise God instead of panicking.

Ephesians 6: Helmet of Salvation, Proverbs 23:7, your mind will  direct your actions.  All of our behavior stems from the thinking we choose to have.  Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be your God… our minds need to be protected from the enemy.  Your God is blessed, he is abundant, he is all powerful.  

So when you are faced with a “situation”.. Remember your God is faithful and he is bigger than any mountain you may be facing.  If I can leave you with one thing… The only way to battle the struggles we will face in this life is to have a relationship with God and to know his word.  I challenge you to spend time each day reading God’s word, memorizing scripture, praying and writing it all down.  

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will bless the person reading these words.  I pray they will know you and that they will trust you.  Lord, keep them safe, give them peace that only comes from knowing you.  We ask you to open their hearts and give them the margin in their days to find time to be with you.  In your name we pray, Amen.