“They say to each other, ‘No one can catch us, no one can detect our perfect crime.’ The Detective (God) detects the mystery in the dark of the cellar heart.”

(Psalm 64:6 MSG)

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Shattered!

by Debbie Allen

Standing speechless in the middle of my kitchen floor, my Mom and I surveyed the damage that occurred while we were out to a routine breakfast and hair appointment.  Yes…I was more than puzzled about my garage door being up when we returned home.  My heart was still pounding from the sight of my front door standing wide open upon our arrival.  But THIS…this was unthinkable! My favorite refuge.  The bay window…that safe place in my kitchen where I retreated every morning with my Bible and a cup of coffee.  Now, it was transformed into a doorway for trouble to step into my world.  A gateway for the intruders, who’d forced their way into my home. 

Surrounded by shards of glass, scattered the full length of my kitchen floor, I wasn’t sure which of my emotions to address first.  In my adrenaline-drenched state, I somehow managed to still hear the voice of reason break-in; warning me that we might not be alone in my house.  Grabbing my Mom by the shoulder, we headed for the safety of her front porch; to sort things out and call the Police.  Still in a state of disbelief, all I could do was wonder silently,

“Who, in the world, is brazen enough to break into someone’s home right in the midst of broad daylight?”

 Unfortunately, that question is still waiting to be answered.

When the police arrived, one of the first questions they asked my husband and I was, “Do you have any enemies, anyone who would want to do you harm?”

We turned to each other, shrugged at the nature of the question, and replied with a definite, “No.”

 We’d lived in our neighborhood for over forty years without incident. We shared a close bond with all of our family members and friends, and knew most of the neighbors around us.  That’s why this took us both by complete surprise.  Thinking we may have an enemy, an unknown enemy, was disturbing. 

 As the day progressed, chaos ensued.  After a Policeman declared our house safe to enter again; we followed him upstairs to our bedroom.  There, we discovered what looked like the aftermath of a natural disaster!  Drawers were dumped, closets ransacked, and my jewelry case emptied; minus one diamond, cross necklace.  The intruders even searched between our mattresses and peeled off my husband’s pillow case; for somewhere to stash the goods they managed to get away with.  I found it almost humorous, however, that the burglars threw my husband’s naked, pillow over an antique doll’s face; lying in a cradle by the bedroom entry.  I guess the doll’s accusing, brown, porcelain, eyes watching over their criminal actions must’ve been too much for the intruder’s consciences to bear!

The ironic truth was this. The set of Eyes that were watching those intruders at work in my house that day were not the piercing eyes of an antique doll.   They were God’s Eyes.  We are told in Proverbs 15:3, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” 

As I stood in the middle of my kitchen, surrounded by a sea of broken glass, contemplating the unexpected intrusion that robbed me of my peace-of-mind; I felt a little like the Disciples must’ve felt the day they climbed into a boat on the Sea of Galilee, with Jesus. Jesus fell asleep, and an unexpected storm engulfed them. As enormous waves crashed around them, peels of thunder and lightning filled the heavens above them. I’m sure the Disciples, too, felt exposed to the outside world, vulnerable, and consumed by fear. Though Jesus’ eyes were closed, I don’t think they were closed to the Disciples’ unexpected circumstances. I believe Jesus was just giving His men time to choose faith over fear.  Faith that what they knew of Him to be true on dry land…was still true of Him even out on a stormy sea.  You see, they had the option of fully trusting in Him that day.  Yet, the Disciples’ eyes remained focused on the intensity of the storm pressing in on them instead…not on the intense power of the One in the boat right next to them. 

After Jesus calmed the storm that day, He didn’t ask His shaken, Disciples, “Are you alright?” or “Anybody hurt?”   No…He asked them one pointed question. “Where is your faith?”                                                                                          

 That question indicates to me that the Disciples had a choice.  They didn’t have to succumb to the fear that washed over them when the unexpected seized them.  They could’ve intentionally chosen faith.  Faith that their security lay in the Hands of The One next to them in the boat….no matter what the seas around them might look like.    

Though fear is a natural, human reaction to the intrusions this broken, world promises will come our way in life; faith should always be our first and wisest choice. The Scriptures even tell us,

“God did not give us a spirit of fear…but of power and love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

Even standing in the midst of life’s pieces, shattered and broken, I believe our hearts are made to reflect something more than just the devastation surrounding us.  We are made to “reflect a pattern shaped by the faith and love we have for Jesus.” (2Timothy 1:13a NIV) To respond to Him with whole-hearted trust…even in the midst of our life’s pieces.

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“Our hearts are made to reflect God’s Peace…even in the midst of our life’s pieces.“

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From the aftermath of a break-in or the pain of a break-up, to the breaking-out of whatever storm has held you captive, too long; know that you have a choice.  Choose faith, not fear.    Jesus is in the boat!  His Eyes may seem closed to the storm, but they are not blind to the turmoil surrounding you; nor deaf to the pounding of your heart. He’s giving you time…time to filter out fear and step into Faith.  This world’s intrusions in our lives are earthly opportunities for us to witness and experience for ourselves, both the holy terror and the unexpected beauty of Heaven’s Interceptions in our lives. We will witness His miracles if we stir-up the courage within us to choose faith.  Living as modern-day Disciples in a growing anti-Jesus, culture, I guarantee that great and unexpected storms will continue to rage against us until time is no more. But…I assure you of an even greater Truth. 

Greater is The One in our boat; than all of the waves that rage against us in this dark and stormy world!!! 

 (Paraphrased/ 1 John 4:4)

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PRAYER:

DEAREST HEAVENLY FATHER, in these corrupted times we are living in now, it’s not difficult to see we live in a broken world, where even innocent people are forced to play the role of the victim at times. When panic and fear descend upon us, help us re-direct our minds to one simple truth. You, Jesus, are still in our boat today. May Your Presence give us the courage we need to stand-up to fear; and faithfully, choose to stand next-to You; as we face our own raging seas. Political upheaval…social chaos…moral rebellion and deceitful agendas, to name a few.  Teach us to trust You wholly, Father.  For the peace our hearts so desperately seeks can only be found at the end of the Truths You speak. Pierce our hearts and hone our spirits with the same question a disappointed Jesus, confronted His own Disciples with. “Where is your faith?”   I pray the weight of this question prompts us to consider and re-consider, The One standing in our boat today; as turbulent waters continue to rise all around us.  Where is our faith…both as a people and a Nation?  Forgive us, LORD!   “As for me and my household…we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) 

  In Jesus Name…Amen

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