Calming the Storm

 

Today I'd like to introduce you to Storm. Storm is a rescue who came from a traumatic situation in her puppyhood. Because of this, her brain is wired differently. She sees people, trucks driving by, even squirrels, as a deathly threat. She is terrified of the noises the wind makes and fireworks transform her into a quivering mass. Storm takes Prozac and CBD every day to help with this, but it doesn't feel like it makes a significant difference. We have to be really careful when people come over, even people she knows and loves, because her stress response is definitely fight. She'll bite first and then feel really, really bad later. On the flip side, she is the most affectionate animal I've ever had. Once she feels comfortable with someone she loves on them, cuddling in their lap, giving them kisses. But once that same person steps outside the front door, even people she lives with, she starts barking like we're under attack! This morning, as I'm writing this, a technician is here performing a maintenance checkup on our furnace. I've spent the last half hour trying to convince Storm that she is safe and my husband and I are watching out for her. Every once in a while she seems to believe me, and then there is a thump in the next room or she picks up on the technician's voice and the excitement begins again! Right now she is curled up under my desk with her stuffies. These are her comfort toys that she carries around with her in groups and snuggles with. I didn't know dogs did that until she joined our family.

So why am I bringing Storm into our conversation today? I feel like God was teaching me a lesson through her this morning. As I was petting her and telling her that she didn't need to be afraid and that she was cared for I felt a pulling of the Holy Spirit on my heart asking me if I believed that as well. After all, how can I expect Storm to believe me if I don't believe myself?


“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”  Luke 2:14
Christmas decorations abound with the message of love, joy and peace. In the past I've vacillated between feeling comforted by their message and taunted because I didn't at all feel what they were calling me to. The angels who proclaimed this peace many years ago promised it to those "with whom he is pleased". The "he" they were speaking about was God. So often I've wondered how God could possibly be pleased with me? I fail so often, I let myself down, let alone my perfect Heavenly Father. I certainly don't feel pleased with me, so why should He be? 

Here's the truth though, again, it's not about me! When God looks at me, He doesn't shake His head in disappointment because of all my failures, He sees me through the lens of what Jesus did for me on the cross:

In God's eyes, I am righteous, because Christ is righteous. I am forgiven, cleansed, made perfect in Him. Because of Jesus, I am one of the, "people with whom he is pleased". And so, I am an inheritor of the peace promised to us by the angels so long ago. 

Here's the Thing: Just like Storm, I can't experience this peace until I believe it. Telling me to have peace when I don't is like telling an angry person to calm down - it never has the desired effect. But the truth is, that peace is there and available to me. All the Prozac and CBD in the world cannot make me feel it, but surrendering my worries and fears to Jesus and trusting Him to take care of me will.

BLOG UPDATE: 

I am so excited to share with you that I have FINALLY learned how to add subscribers to my blog! If you'd like to be notified by email when a new post is added, send a note to saltyzebrablog@outlook.com. I'll put your email in, and you'll get a subscription invite.

             

As a reminder, this December I'm looking for those who would like to partner with me in providing content by donating. You can learn more here, or if you'd just like to donate, click here. 
Thank you for your consideration!

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