If you’ve ever set up one of those pop-up canopy tents, you know they aren’t the most sturdy shelters, especially against much wind.
I had one I used when I was doing many outdoor vendor events for my wellness business. It was one of the best ones you could buy and even had detachable sides with little plastic windows. It provided perfect sheild from the sun and made a great spot to hang cute decorations, but a gust of wind could take it airborne in two seconds. It was like trying to hold down a parachute. The wind would rip through and lift the thin metal legs off the ground using the canopy roof as it’s vehicle.
I quickly learned, by watching my fellow event vendors, that sandbags or gallon water jugs were necessary to hold down the fort.
Every event I did, I would make sure I had my gallon jugs tied down, one on each leg, so my tent would stand against the elements.
One weekend, I loaned my fancy canopy tent to a teammate. After a windy Saturday, the tent was returned with a broken leg. I can’t remember if the water jugs had failed against the high winds or if she’d forgotten to put them down but, either way, the event tent’s weak legs weren’t able to stand the storm.
Have you ever felt like that canopy tent? Like you’re just not able to stand the storm?
One of my favorite scriptures is found in Ephesians, before Paul lists the armor of God. It begins in verse 13 and continues to 14 saying, “and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then”.
What should we do when we’ve done everything to stand firm in life’s storms? We’ve set up our tent, tied on our sandbags and water jugs, and even hung our cute decorations. Now what?
Now, we stand firm.
Oh my goodness, I have felt like event tent. Tossed around, beaten, battered, and even broken a leg a time or two. I have felt like whatever tools I have at my feet, are too small to stand up against the storm. Like I’m being hit from all sides and all I’ve got is plastic windows. Like I’m being picked up and tossed and the water jugs that were supposed to hold me down are half empty.
Friends, have you been there?
So how then, do we stand firm? Let’s read on. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And then he tells us to pray.
Y’all that sounds like a lot more protection from the wind and storm than just a few sandbags or water jugs.
This type of armor would have made my event tent look like a military tank. A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat, with heavy firepower, strong armour, tracks and a powerful engine providing good battlefield maneuverability.
That sounds so much more powerful than water jugs!
How are you prepping for the storm, friends? Are you equipping yourself to stand firm with the full armor of God or are you grabbing a couple sandbags and water jugs and hoping for the best?
You don’t get this kind of heavy armor by filling out your good Christian checklist or even sitting in church every Sunday. You get it by digging in deep to the truth of God’s word and letting Him transform your life. You get it by walking through the storms of life in trusting dependance on God, knowing that even if you break a leg in this one, your faith will be stronger and His perfect plan will be unfolding. You get it by understanding, He is Sovereign and always good and that even if you feel tossed by the wind, there is purpose in this stormy season.
Friend, I wish I could tell you that when you put on your tank-like armor you’ll no longer feel rocked by the pain of this world but that is simply un-true.
I can tell you, you’ll walk upright. You’ll walk in Hope. You’ll walk with a strange Peace that is difficult to even comprehend and you’ll walk in a Truth that others lack. While confusion and choas will be their companion. You’ll see purpose and design.
So after you’ve done everything to stand. And I mean everything, not just grabbing a couple water jugs, but everything to let God anchor you, stand firm then. Stand firm.
#theparableoftheeventtent #atthecross #pathtoProvidence