Mountain View - A Different View by Paula Friedrichsen
Writer Author Church On The Mountain
Christian Column
:
Christian Living
- Fiction No
While visiting my folks in the Los Angeles area, I passed by a condominium construction site. The almost-finished condos were being built on the side of a mountain and promised panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley. As I drove past, I imagined how delightful it would be to sit on one of those sundecks, sipping morning coffee and enjoying the expansive vista from that vantage point.
But as the traffic inched forward I could see that there was actually another set of much older condos situated behind the ones being constructed. The new project was literally going up directly in front of the existing homes. And while the original condos were two stories high, the new ones were three stories high—just high enough to completely block the views from the older condos.
I was outraged! It seemed unthinkable to me that the owners of the new condo project had been allowed to do such a thing to the existing homeowners—but they had. The families who owned those older condos had purchased them because of the gorgeous view. Now they would be looking at the back of the monstrous condo project directly in front of them.
Life can be just that unfair sometimes. There is nothing quite as excruciating as being seriously disappointed, and there’s nothing like a recession to create serious disappointment. These days many folks wonder what happened their once prosperous life. This wasn’t the “view” they had signed up for.
Times of economic downturn take their toll on every part of our lives: marriage, parenting, peace of mind, friendships, and faith. And while it’s a fact that times of hardship and loss are very uncomfortable and distressing, they also serve to showcase the audacious goodness of God. As the following Scripture illustrates; without enduring a few furious squalls in our lives—we miss out on the miracles of peace in the storm.
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-40)
In the past when I’ve read that piece of Scripture I’ve always focused on the fact that the disciples were afraid and needed more faith. But this passage also teaches that if Jesus is invited into a crisis, He will act! He brought peace in the midst of danger, peril, and turmoil. He calmed the storm. The silver lining to enduring a “furious squall” is the absolute thrill of seeing Christ enter into the situation in power. This was a life changing event for the disciples, and one which most likely increased their faith. And isn’t that just the crux of it all? When we’re going through times of turmoil we turn to God…and He turns to us. Distressing times are God’s invitation to us for greater intimacy, and storm clouds are the perfect backdrop for His silver linings.
Editor's Comment:
About the Writer Author
State:
California
Country:
United States
Email:
Paulafriedrichsen@live.com
Website:
www.churchonthemountain.org
Profile:
Click here!
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