In the Eye of the Storm...

Tonight I come to you asking for prayers for a friend and a co-worker of mine. Yesterday went hand in hand with my previous post about how life can sometimes throw us curve balls. Things that we are not expecting to happen, but when they do, we are thrown for a loop. Yesterday while at work, I answered the phone like I always do. Only this phone call was different. The lady on the other line stated she was calling in for someone. At first thought, I thought okay, no big deal, I will just give this call to a Nurse. However this person went on to explain that the person they were calling about was now in the hospital. I will not go into all the details as to what happened, as it is a personal matter, but I do ask that you please be in prayer for this person, as they are suffering. I can't even begin to fathom the pain they are dealing with at this time, nor would I ever want to endure it myself. I had to take a minute and process what this person just told me. I left my desk and a co-worker and I begin to tell everyone what was going on. Within five minutes all of my co-workers and I were gathered in an empty room. We all joined hands while another co-worker began to pray. She prayed for understanding and God's strength upon this person and I could feel the Holy Spirit move through her as she prayed aloud. Tears were shed and several of us asked what we could do to help? It is times like these when we really do have to take a step back and examine our lives. There is always someone going through or facing a hardship. It makes one realize just how minimal our problems truly are when we compare them to others. I believe there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. Sometimes I look at this world and I realize just how trivial my problems are compared to those that I know. I pull up my facebook page on a daily basis and while scrolling through I almost always come across a post where someone is facing a storm. Then I look again and I see post after post where people are asking for prayer. In a way this actually blesses me. To know that we are not alone as we face these trials amazes me. Sometimes I have to step back and not see things through my eyes, but the eyes of others. You may never know what someone else is going through. A smile and a laugh can cover so much up. Tonight I ask that you not only lift my co-worker up in your prayers, but I also ask that you not be so quick to judge. We ALL have our good and bad days and we may not ever know what other people are facing. Stop and think before you speak. Put yourself in their shoes. Help those who need helping. Go out of your way to be nice. Instead of putting someone down by gossiping behind their back, say something kind about them. Spread positivity instead of negativity. I don't think anyone would complain if you gave them a word of encouragement or threw out a nice compliment. Kind words go a long way. Remember all those curve balls that were thrown your way and ask yourself how you can help someone else. Sometimes all people really need is a listening ear. Tonight I pray for all the storms we are facing. I ask that God be with you, even as you read these very words. I pray for healing where healing needs to be done. I ask for God to intervene and that you would feel at peace. I ask for burdens to be left in the past. I ask for weights to be lifted off our shoulders. I pray for God's grace to be upon all who read this. I ask that we see the blessing behind the mess. May God be the eye of your storm, for in the eye, you can always find peace and rest.